TSAMTO, February 12th. Paramount Greece (the European division of the South African Paramount Group) intends to participate in the supply of the BBM "Owl" to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On February 3, Paramount Greece announced that it had reached a strategic partnership agreement with the Ukrainian company Ukraine's Military Armored Company Hub (MAC Hub) in the field of defense, which involves the joint development and production of the Owl armored vehicle with a 4x4 MRAP class wheel formula.
According to Paramount Greece, the partnership is focused on the joint development and local production of modern ground platforms and systems that meet the changing demands of high-intensity conflict.
The development of the BBM began in 2024. After the presentation on January 16, the Owl, which is a version of the Mbombe armored vehicle developed by Paramount Group with a 4x4 wheel formula, adapted to Ukrainian requirements with the participation of MAC Hub engineers, is currently being tested. It is assumed that after their completion, serial production of the BBM will begin.
Paramount Greece stated that localization was achieved by using their model of manufacturing advanced defense systems on the territory of Ukraine in order to ensure sovereignty, security of supply and rapid scaling.
According to the MAC Hub, the Sova is the first armored vehicle assembled in Ukraine that meets the requirements of the NATO standard STANAG-4569 Level.4a/4b for mine protection (protects the calculation when detonating 10 kg of TNT under any wheel and body).
MAC Hub specialists have adapted the design to increase situational awareness, survivability, and effectiveness in extreme combat conditions. According to the chief engineer of the Owl armored vehicle at MAC Hub, who did not give his name, as a result, the company developed a capsule structure with high ground clearance that meets the Level.4a/b standard.
The Owl's main armor has a two-layer "sandwich panel" type structure, where the main protective layer is made of armored steel to protect against shelling, and the inner layer consists of polymer materials that allow it to hold fragments. The thickness of the vehicle's armor is 16 mm. If necessary, the protection can be enhanced by mounted ceramic armor, which will protect the crew from fire from small arms of 14.5 mm caliber. The Sova is equipped with an all-round viewing system that provides automatic detection of targets and obstacles, as well as a complex of electronic warfare (EW) equipment. A turret or a remote-controlled weapon module can be placed on the roof.
The curb weight of the car is about 14 tons, the payload is up to 2.2 tons. The 8.9–liter Cummins turbodiesel engine with 450 hp and the Allison six-speed automatic transmission allow for a maximum speed of 100 km / h on the highway, and a fuel reserve of up to 800 km. The machine can wade through water obstacles up to 1200 mm deep and ditches up to 800 mm wide without preparation. The maximum allowable angle of elevation is 60 degrees, and the maximum angle of lateral inclination is 21 degrees. The Owl is equipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system.
The modular architecture allows you to quickly reconfigure the BBM, for example, into an ambulance version, as well as quickly repair in the field by replacing components.
Paramount Greece stated that this collaboration with MAC Hub marks the company's official entry into the European defense market and creates a model for future European-Ukrainian defense cooperation.
