Paramount Group Information

Paramount Group is a group of companies operating in the global defence, internal security and peacekeeping industries. It was founded in South Africa in 1994 and offers a range of armoured vehicles, military aircraft, equipment and training to governments.

The company was founded by South African entrepreneur and industrialist Ivor Ichikowitz. The Group is based in South Africa, with its headquarters in Sandton.

Paramount Group consists of four business units: maritime, combat systems, aerospace, and advanced technologies.

Paramount Group manufactures a range of armoured vehicles – the Maverick, Mbombe,Matador and Marauder - and in 2011 unveiled the AHRLAC, a long-range reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft. AHRLAC is the first military fixed-wing aircraft to be designed and built from scratch in Africa.

The business has government clients in 28 countries, across five continents and partnerships with leading international defence and aerospace players, including Aerosud Holdings Ltd, its partner in the development of AHRLAC and Advanced Technology and Engineering Co. (ATE). In 2014 Paramount Group and Boeing signed a memorandum of collaboration to develop products together in areas such as humanitarian aid, disaster relief, anti-poaching and border protection.

In February 2011, Paramount Group announced a joint venture with Abu Dhabi - based defence business International Golden Group to market and distribute Paramount Group’s products and services in the United Arab Emirates.

AHRLAC was launched in September 2011 and described by commentators, including The Wall Street Journal, as filling a niche for a versatile, low-cost aircraft. In December 2011, the UK national newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported that the Paramount Groups Wikipedia profile had been edited by accounts linked to Bell Pottinger.

On 10 June 2013 Paramount Group announced that their takeover of Advanced Technologies and Engineering (ATE) was at an advanced stage. ATE had been operating under a business rescue plan for some time before Paramount decided on the takeover. In September of the same year Paramount Group partnered with Nautic Africa to provide and build vessels to help Africa protect against piracy.

In April 2015 Paramount Group announced the takeover of DCD Protected Mobility (part of South Africa’s DCD industrial and engineering group) took control of the facilities and staff, which are located in Isando in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

Paramount Group’s Marauder featured in an episode of the BBC’s Top Gear programme. Television show presenter Richard Hammond took the vehicle on a test drive in South Africa to put the vehicle through its paces in comparison to a Humvee in a bid to find ‘the world’s toughest car.’ The programme was broadcast in July 2011.

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