Paramount unveils Mbada: a new generation of light protected armoured mobility at AAD 2026

Pretoria, South Africa, 17th of September 2026 – Paramount, the global aerospace and defence technology company, and Africa’s leading manufacturer of armoured vehicles, will unveil the Mbada 4×4 light armoured modular vehicle (LAMV) at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition 2026, marking the first time the vehicle will be publicly showcased at an international defence exhibition.

Designed from inception as a highly adaptable, modular and mission-configurable platform, Mbada addresses one of the most significant capability requirements facing modern armed forces: the need for a light armoured, protected, highly mobile, multi-role vehicle capable of operating across a broad spectrum of missions.

“As military forces across Africa and around the world adapt to increasingly complex, dispersed and unpredictable operational environments, demand is growing for lighter and more agile armoured vehicles that combine mobility and survivability with the flexibility to rapidly integrate new technologies, weapons and mission systems” said Lindiwe Tshabalala, CEO of Paramount South Africa.

“The launch of Mbada at AAD 2026 reflects our commitment to developing world-class defence solutions through strong international partnerships. By combining KSSL’s advanced engineering and manufacturing strengths with Paramount’s proven expertise in protected mobility, we have created a versatile and future-ready platform designed to meet the evolving operational requirements of modern armed forces. Mbada is a testament to our shared vision of delivering innovative, mission-ready capabilities to customers across global markets.” said Neelesh Tungar, CEO, Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd.

Named after the leopard in Shona, Mbada embodies the lightweight, speed, agility, strength and adaptability of one of Africa’s most formidable predators. The name reflects the vehicle’s core design philosophy: combining high mobility, substantial protection and power to enable forces to outmanoeuvre threats and operate effectively across complex environments.

Mbada has been specifically engineered to meet this requirement. Its modular architecture enables the vehicle to be configured for a wide range of missions, including reconnaissance, internal security, border protection, special forces operations, troop transport, logistics support, command and control, surveillance, weapons carriage, force protection and homeland security.

Mbada has been co-developed from inception with Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), defence arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bharat Forge Limited., as a 4×4 light armoured mobility platform for armed forces across India, Africa, South Asia and other international markets. Its concept debuted at Eurosatory 2026 as ‘Simha’, (or Lion) the platform’s variant for India and other global markets. 

The platform is designed to support customer-specific configurations while simplifying maintenance, upgrades and lifecycle support, enabling operators to adapt the vehicle as mission requirements and technologies evolve.

The combination of mobility, protection and modularity enables Mbada to operate across missions where traditional heavier armoured platforms may be constrained by terrain, infrastructure or the requirement for rapid tactical movement.

“Mbada builds on Paramount’s deep heritage in armoured vehicle design, engineering and production, developed over decades through the creation and deployment of some of the world’s most advanced and recognisable protected mobility platforms for military, peacekeeping, border security, internal security and other specialised missions. Mbada represents the next evolution of Paramount’s armoured vehicle offering – a platform designed around the future battlefield.” Tshabalala added. 

At approximately 10 tonnes kerb weight, Mbada combines a 450 HP (336 kW) six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine delivering 1,627 Nm of torque with a six-speed automatic transmission, two-speed lockable transfer case and independent front and rear suspension.

Despite its relatively lightweight configuration, Mbada delivers significant levels of protection. Its fully welded monocoque construction provides STANAG 4569 Level 1 and Level 2 ballistic protection, with Level 2a and 2b blast protection, including protection against a 6 kg TNT-equivalent mine beneath the wheel or hull.

The vehicle can reach a maximum road speed of 110 km/h, giving forces the mobility required to rapidly reposition, pursue threats or deploy across extended operational areas.

Mbada accommodates a crew of four, comprising driver, commander and two additional crew members, with four side doors and a turret ring. The vehicle is available in both left- and right-hand-drive configurations.

A comprehensive range of optional mission and survivability systems can be integrated, including weapons and ammunition racks, communications and intercom systems, C4I, antenna mounts, roof-mounted searchlights, wire cutters, central tyre inflation systems, run-flat tyres, shooting ports, winches, snorkels, FLIR night-driving systems and parking sensors.

With an operating temperature range of -20°C to +45°C without preparation, Mbada has been engineered for deployment across a wide range of climates and operational environments.

The vehicle will make its public debut at AAD 2026, where Paramount will demonstrate how its latest armoured vehicle combines speed, protection, adaptability and mission flexibility in a single lightweight platform.

Photos courtesy Paramaount