Matador (mine protected vehicle)

The Matador is an armoured personnel carrier (APC) and mine-protected vehicle that is produced by Paramount Group in South Africa.[3] The vehicle was displayed for the first time in 2007, during the International Defence Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi.[4][5] The Matador was officially launched the following year, at the 2008 African Aerospace and Defence exhibition in Cape Town, South Africa.[6]

Matador
Matador mine-protected vehicle at the military parade in Baku, Azerbaijan
TypeMine-protected vehicle
Place of originSouth Africa
Service history
Used bySee Operators
Production history
ManufacturerParamount Group
Produced2008–present
Specifications
MassCurb: 10,800 kg (23,760 lb)
Combat: 15,300 kg (33,660 lb)
Crew2 + 12 passengers
ArmorBallistic protection: STANAG 4569 level III (7.62 × 54 mm RB 32 API - Dragunov) and mine-blast protection: STANAG 4569 4a and 4b (double anti-tank mine (14 kg of TNT) under the hull, triple anti-tank mine (21 kg of TNT) under any wheel)
EngineCummins ISBe4 Diesel (221 kW, 1,100 Nm)
MAN (176 kW, 925 Nm)
Payload capacity6,000 kg (13,200 lb)[1]
Suspension4x4 or 6x6 wheeled[2]
Ground clearance420 mm
Operational
range
700 km (435 mi)
Maximum speed 100–120 km/h (tyre dependent)
Steering
system
18 meters turning radius

Vehicle specs

With a curb weight of 10,800 kg and a payload weight of 4,500 kg, the Matador has a maximum crew capacity of fourteen, including a driver and co-driver.[7] The vehicle has a cruise speed of 100 km/h and a maximum range of 700 km. Although it can be used for military and peacekeeping operations in urban areas, it was originally designed for missions in less built-up areas. It therefore has a larger turning circle compared to its sister vehicle, the Marauder, which was specifically developed for urban areas.

The Matador is either equipped with a militarised MAN engine integrated with a 12-speed semi-automatic transmission, or a Cummins engine integrated with a fully automated 6-speed transmission. Both technologies are common around the world, allowing the vehicle to be repaired and serviced in most countries, without requiring an independent logistic system.

Armour

The Matador is fitted with a double-skin monocoque hull, which gives it a modern look and a smooth finish while protecting its occupants against blasts up to STANAG 4569 Level III, the highest level of tested protection. The V-shaped hull comprises three self-jigging plates.[8] This system, developed in South Africa, enables the Matador to withstand the blast of a double anti-tank mine (14 kg of TNT) at any point beneath the hull, and a triple anti-tank mine (21 kg of TNT) under any wheel.[9]

Armament

The vehicle can be equipped with light and medium-calibre machine guns and cannon weapon installations, as well as mortar firing platforms, missile launchers, combat turret, and command, surveillance and control systems.[3]

Functions

The Matador can be converted to serve various purposes and roles, such as armoured ambulance, command-post vehicle, or utility mine-protected vehicle.[10]

Production

In 2008, for the manufacturing and production of the Matador, the Paramount Group liaised with King Abdullah II of Jordan and the Design and Development Bureau (KADDB), Jordan's primary governmental military institute for the possible development and manufacturing of defence systems.[11]

In 2009, a deal was sealed with the government of the Republic of Azerbaijan to produce Matadors via knock down kits.[12]

Operators
Map with Matador operators in blue

References
  1. "Matador - Highly protected armoured vehicle". Paramount Group. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  2. "Matador - Mine Protected Vehicle". Paramount Group. Archived from the original on April 17, 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  3. "Paramount Group". Army-Technology.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  4. "IDEAS 2014". Archived from the original on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  5. "IDEX 2009 International defence Exhibition Conference military army Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates n - Army Recognition". Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  6. "AMD ::: South African Aerospace, Maritime & Defence Industries Association". Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  7. "Paramount Group". Archived from the original on February 25, 2010. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
  8. "Lenta.ru: Наука и техника: Азербайджан обеспечит СНГ южноафриканскими бронемашинами". Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  9. Leon Engelbrecht (2010-02-17). "SA's Paramount teams with Ashok Leyland in MRAP business". Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  10. "Paramount Group". www.paramountgroup.biz. Archived from the original on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  11. http://kaddb.mil.jo/static/faq.shtm. Retrieved March 10, 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-07-30. Retrieved 2018-07-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Internal Server Error" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-06-22.
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