Africa’s largest private defence company joins Indian billionaire Baba Kalyani’s defence group to launch new armoured vehicle in France

Paramount Group, Africa’s largest private defence company, has unveiled a new light armoured vehicle with India’s Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited, as African and Asian defence manufacturers deepen partnerships to supply armed forces across emerging markets.

• The Simha 4×4 is designed for versatility, including roles in urban warfare, border protection, special operations, and troop transport, with modular architecture for easy customization.
• Paramount Group and India’s Kalyani Strategic Systems unveiled the Simha 4×4 Light Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle, targeting emerging defence markets in Africa, South Asia, and globally.
• Paramount has expanded internationally by licensing its Mbombe platform to various countries and recently secured approval for its MAC OWL armoured vehicle for military use in Ukraine.
• This collaboration reflects a broader shift in global defence supply as African and Asian manufacturers expand their presence beyond traditional Western dominance.

The South Africa-based defence and aerospace company launched the Simha 4×4 Light Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle with Kalyani Defence at the Eurosatory 2026 defence exhibition in France.

Kalyani Defence is a subsidiary of Bharat Forge Limited and the flagship defence and aerospace arm of India’s $2.5 billion Kalyani Group, led by billionaire industrialist Baba Kalyani, whose net worth Forbes estimates at $5.1 billion.

The vehicle, named after the Sanskrit word for lion, was developed for armed forces in India, Africa, South Asia and other global markets, the companies said on June 16.

Paramount Targets Emerging Defence Markets

The launch gives Paramount and Kalyani a new platform for countries seeking lighter, more flexible armoured systems for urban warfare, border protection and internal security.

It also comes as African governments increase spending on mobility, counter-insurgency and force protection, while seeking platforms that can be adapted locally, maintained more easily and deployed in difficult terrain.

Paramount Group, founded by South African entrepreneur Ivor Ichikowitz, has built a presence in several international markets through armoured vehicles, aerospace systems and defence technology.

Its partnership with Kalyani reflects a wider shift in global defence supply chains, as companies in Africa and Asia seek a larger role in a sector long dominated by Western manufacturers.

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Simha Built For Multiple Missions

The companies said the Simha 4×4 was designed for reconnaissance, internal security, border protection, special operations, command-and-control, troop transport and force protection.

“Combining power, agility, and protection, the Simha 4×4 is best suited for a mix of urban warfare and on and off-road reconnaissance. Building on proven aggregates, its modular architecture allows easy upgrades, customizations, and modifications enabling users to streamline and optimise their supply and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) lines,” the companies said.

Eric Ichikowitz, Senior Vice President of Paramount, said defence forces were looking for adaptable platforms that can perform several missions, integrate emerging technologies and support local production.

“The Simha has been designed from the outset to meet those requirements. It combines protection, mobility, modularity and affordability in a platform that can evolve alongside changing operational needs,” he said.

Amit Kalyani, Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Bharat Forge Ltd, said the vehicle showed India’s growing defence manufacturing capacity.

“Europeanised by design, and built around NATO qualified aggregates, it is engineered for rapid industrialisation in partner nations across the world,” he said.

India Deal Builds On Mbombe Partnership

In February 2021, Bharat Forge received an initial $24 million contract from India’s Ministry of Defence after the M4 completed extreme vehicle trials in India.

Under that arrangement, Kalyani Strategic Systems manufactures Paramount’s Mbombe 4 as the Kalyani M4 for the Indian Army at its plant in Pune.

The first Kalyani M4s entered Indian Army service in April 2022 and have also been deployed in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Paramount says the platform was designed for quick mobility in rough terrain and in areas exposed to mine and improvised explosive device threats.

Mbombe Platform Expands Beyond Africa

Beyond India, Paramount is also the maker of the Mbombe family of mine-protected combat platforms, which were designed for high-threat environments.

The name “Mbombe” honours a Zulu warrior and reflects the vehicle family’s focus on protection and durability.

Since its launch in 2019, the Mbombe 4 has been ordered by several countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Arab Emirates, Togo and India.

In Europe, the vehicle has also attracted interest, with Czech defence company STV Group agreeing to market and license the Mbombe 4 as the M4 Golem.

More recently, Paramount’s European arm secured a breakthrough in Ukraine, where the Ministry of Defence formally codified and approved the MAC OWL, or Sova, armoured vehicle for military service.

The MAC OWL is a Ukrainian-configured variant of Paramount’s Mbombe 4 Infantry Combat Vehicle, developed with Ukraine’s MAC HUB for high-threat environments.

The approval marks the latest step in Paramount’s Ukraine push, months after Business Insider Africa reported in February that the South African company was seeking to establish a presence in Ukraine’s fast-growing armoured vehicle market.