State-owned aerospace and defence technology group Denel has expanded the range of its recovery vehicles based on the well-known Casspir mine resistant system, responding to what it describes as “keen interest” by clients on the African continent.

The latest addition to the Mechem vehicle line-up – the heavy-duty Casspir Eland recovery vehicle – is a 6×6 configuration based on the well-known Casspir NG2000 series.

With its monocoque design, the Eland is larger and heavier than the 4×4 wheel variant, the Casspir Gemsbok, with two of these recovery variants having recently been ordered by the Angolan Defence Force.   Mechem GM Ashley Williams described “considerable” international interest in the Casspir series of vehicles, noting that Denel had recently concluded a long-term agreement to supply various mine-protected variants to an important international client. Print Send to Friend 2 0 Mechem was, meanwhile, also busy with the production of the Casspir 6×6, 4×4 and 8×8 Stallion – a recovery vehicle based on a truck chassis with a protected cab and the ability to perform heavy-duty recovery.

According to Williams, several African countries were showing interest in the complete Casspir family of mine-protected vehicles.

“Mechem hosted delegations from three countries in December and demonstrated the full spectrum of Casspir variants.   “The advantages of acquiring different variants of the same trusted vehicle are quite obvious. Prospective clients in Africa can use the Casspir variants in different conditions and applications and they are suitable for both military operations and peace support missions,” he said in a statement.

Mechem also shipped a batch of ten Casspir personnel carriers equipped with special mine roller attachments to be used in the clearance of land mines and unexploded ordinance to a client in December.   The long-term agreement with the client also included the future supply of five Casspir Stallion recovery vehicles, while a further order for five more vehicles was in the planning stage, as well as orders for other special Casspir variants.

www.engineeringnews.co.za