Gabon’s Maverick internal security vehicles deployed during Africa Cup of Nations

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Gabon has bought ten Maverick internal security vehicles from the Paramount Group and successfully deployed them as public order vehicles at stadiums across the country during the Africa Cup of Nations soccer tournament.

The Cup of Nations competition was co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon between January 21 and February 12. The tournament faced potential security issues following the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011 in North Africa, and the possibilities of terrorist attacks. An armed assault on the Togo team bus at the 2010 Cup of Nations in Angola killed three people and injured two players.

This year’s event passed off peacefully and now the government of Gabon has added the Mavericks to their general fleet of vehicles, Paramount said. The Paramount Group is already trialling the Maverick with other police and internal security forces who have similar needs.

Ivor Ichikowitz, executive chairman of the Paramount Group, said that, “We are very pleased to be able to help the Gabonese government. The Maverick is the perfect public order vehicle – its designs means it can monitor and protect crowds whilst giving maximum protection to its operators.
“Their successful use at the Africa Cup of Nations helped ensure the competition passed off peacefully and that there was no distraction from the fantastic football and entertainment served up for fans across Africa and around the world.”

The 10 000 kg Maverick vehicle completed development in 2008. It has a payload of 5 000 kg and can carry ten people in addition to the two crewmembers. Various turret and weapon system options are available, such as a water cannon or machinegun turret, as well as banks of electrically operated grenade launchers. Paramount offers the Maverick in a variety of models, including Command, Surveillance, Explosive Ordnance, Armoured Ambulance and VIP Transporter. A 221 kW Cummins diesel engine provides the 4×4 vehicle with a top speed of 100-120 km/h.

The vehicle features a double-skin monocoque welded steel hull and is protected against 7.62×51 mm bullets and 155 mm high explosive air bursts (at 60 m). The floor is protected against shrapnel munitions such as M26 hand grenades and firebombs and can be fitted with an external fire extinguisher system.

Paramount said that, boosted by the popularity of the Maverick vehicle, the Group is seeking to expand its internal security product range.