The Zambian Police Service has taken delivery of 15 Maverick internal security vehicles and three Marauder armoured vehicles from Paramount, and will use them for crowd control.
This was announced by Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja, the Lusaka Times reported this week.
“We have acquired three Marauders for the Paramilitary Unit and 15 Mavericks for general policing. Officers will indeed undergo training in the use and maintenance of these vehicles,” he is quoted as saying.
Paramount completed development of the 10 000 kg Maverick 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.
The Maverick has been exported to places like Brazil and Gabon.
The 15 ton Marauder is an IED and mine protected vehicle that can carry of crew of ten and be configured as either a troop carrier or combat vehicle. In addition to its excellent blast protection Marauder is fitted with a double-skinned hull throughout the cabin and crew compartment to protect it against kinetic attack up to STANAG 4569 Level III. Top speed is around 120 km/h.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the last major military equipment Zambia bought from South Africa was 14 Rate-20 infantry fighting vehicles in 2012.
