PUMA M26-15

OTT Puma M26-15
OTT Puma M26-15
Type MRAP
Place of origin South Africa
Service history
Used by See Users
Production history
Manufacturer OTT Technologies

The Puma M26-15 4x4 is an armored personnel carrier (APC) with mine and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) protection. The main users are military, police and security companies during peace-keeping operations. The Puma M26 was designed by OTT Technologies, a South African firm linked to DynCorp International.[1] It is manufactured in South Africa and Mozambique.[2]

History

OTT Armoured Vehicles, a business unit of OTT Technologies (Pty) Ltd, first developed the Puma M26-15 as a cost effective medium mine protected vehicle. The M26-15 is a continuation of the Puma 4x2 mine protected vehicle, which was successfully deployed in Iraq.

The main design parameter was to develop a lower cost and robust mine protected vehicle without compromising crew safety and quality, a vehicle that can be deployed successfully and safely in the harsh environments of Africa and other developing regions. The M26-15 with a crew complement of ten (driver and commander plus eight) is built on the proven Tata 715TC 4x4 driveline making it a robust and easy to maintain mine protected vehicle with a low life cycle cost.

The eight ton GVM M26-15 has a sustained road speed of 80 km/h, double lane change capability of 70 km/h, gradient of 60% and a side slope capability of more than 25°. Wide windows ensure a good situational awareness while twelve shooting ports plus two roof hatches and a 360° cupola with a pintle mount for a light machine gun ensures quick and furious retaliation from the crew in case of an ambush.

Dynamic automotive tests were successfully completed at the internationally renowned Gerotek vehicle test track outside Pretoria.

Scandal

OTT Technologies were accused in March 2014 of breaking customs, tax, and controlled goods laws in Mozambique while attempting to export South African built Puma M26-15 vehicles through the port of Maputo. Mozambican tax authorities impounded 16 Puma M36-MRAPS at the port of Maputo and OTT Technologies’ facility outside of Maputo until the completion of a multi-ministerial investigation into tax and arms control irregularities is complete.

After a thorough investigation by the Mozambique Tax Authority and related departments, all allegations against OTT Technologies were withdrawn and the 16 vehicles were unconditionally released for return to South Africa. The vehicles returned to South Africa in September 2016 and were shipped to West Africa shortly thereafter to commence in the Peace Keeping Operations that they were originally destined for.

Users


  •  Kenya: 150 M26s used in Somalia.[3]
  •  Malawi: In 2013, 13 M26s delivered to Malawi.[3]
  •  Senegal: In 2014, 30 M26s delivered to Senegal which also included armored recovery vehicles.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Guy Martin. "DynCorp rolls out first 16 armoured personnel carriers for UN mission in Mali". Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Mozambique: Armoured Cars were assembled in Matola
  3. 1 2 3 https://web.archive.org/web/20170622123315/http://www.janes.com/images/assets/520/71520/New-model_African_armies.pdf

Notes

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