Osprea Logistics, a US-based company that produces the Mamba mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle, announced in 8 December 2023, the completion of a delivery of 50 Mambas to an undisclosed client in Africa.
It said “Osprea Logistics is successfully delivering another 50 Mamba armoured vehicles to an African based customer, who will use them for peacekeeping missions.”
Although the company did not reveal the identity of the client, a video posted online by Osprea showed the Mamba vehicles being tested by Liberian forces, suggesting that Liberia is the recipient of the delivery.
The Mamba is a South African-designed MRAP vehicle that has been exclusively manufactured by Osprea Logistics in the US since 2016. The Mamba Mk 7 is the latest version of the vehicle, which offers various configurations to suit different operational needs, such as troop transport, command and control, ambulance, and emergency recovery.
The Mamba Mk 7 is known for its high level of protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs), ballistic threats, and mines. The vehicle has survived multiple IED blasts ranging from 50 kg to 80 kg and beyond, without any fatalities among its users.
The Mamba Mk 7 is also praised for its versatility and cost-effectiveness, making it an ideal choice for peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and counter-insurgency missions. The vehicle has been deployed in high-threat regions like Togo, Somalia, Mali, and Niger, where it has enhanced the operational capabilities of several African nations, including Kenya and Uganda, as part of the AMISOM peacekeeping initiative. 16 Mambas were transferred to the G5 Sahel force from the United States Army’s African Command (AFRICOM) on March 31, 2021. Togo operates over 100 Mamba Mk 7s which it ordered around 2020. Chad also operates the type.
The Mamba Mk 7 also features a number of improvements over the previous versions, such as a 410 hp engine, independent suspension, rear windows, a sloping bonnet, and an industry-leading turning circle. These enhancements increase the vehicle’s performance, mobility, and situational awareness.
Osprea Logistics has a manufacturing facility in North Carolina, where it can assemble up to 300 Mamba vehicles per year, or up to 8 vehicles per week. The company has expressed its interest in expanding its market to other regions and organizations, as well as developing new variants of the Mamba vehicle.