OTT Armoured Vehicles, a business unit of OTT Technologies (Pty) Ltd, developed a cost effective medium mine protected vehicle named the Puma M26-15. The M26-15 is a continuation of the Puma 4x2 mine protected vehicle that is 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 70km/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.
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