OTT Technologies and ADG Mobility, two leading South African military vehicle manufacturers, have announced a strategic partnership with Rakaa Security and Military Supplies, a Saudi company that provides security and military equipment to various government agencies in the Kingdom.
The partnership was unveiled at the World Defence Show (WDS) 2024, a global event that showcases the latest innovations and technologies in the defence sector.
The aim of the partnership is to align with and enable the Saudi 2030 vision, a national plan that seeks to diversify the economy, enhance social development, and strengthen security and stability in the region.
Rakaa Security and Military Supplies specialises in the delivery of security and military equipment to all Saudi government agencies, including various branches of the armed forces and police.
The company aims to remain at the forefront of the continuous economic changes in the Kingdom and the Gulf region, as well as on a global level.
As Rakaa Security and Military Supplies states: “We provide strategic advice and a roadmap to help our new partners in the Saudi market.”
As part of the partnership, the South African group will transfer technology and expertise to its Saudi partner, and collaborate on new programme developments, service life extension plans, and localisation of upgrade services and support for existing and legacy equipment.
The partnership will also leverage the extensive design, development, testing, and manufacturing capabilities of the OTT Group, which comprises OTT Technologies, ADG Mobility, and LMT Products.
The OTT Group is the largest 100% privately-owned military vehicle development and manufacturing entity in Southern Africa, with almost 70 years of collective experience and a strong customer base in conflict areas around the world.
The group offers a range of specialised and mine-protected vehicles that are purpose-designed and built with the highest levels of protection and mobility, as certified by international standards and OEMs.
The group’s products include the Puma M36, a 4×4 MRAP vehicle that has a UN long-term agreement and has performed exceptionally well in UAE summer trials, and the LM13 Light Multipurpose vehicle, a 4×4 armoured vehicle.
Dr Stefan Nell, group managing director of the OTT Group, said the partnership with Rakaa Security and Military Supplies is a significant opportunity to expand the group’s presence and influence in the Saudi market and beyond, “providing not only innovative design and development capabilities, but also battle-proven products already in service in the international market, notably in the Middle East region.”
“We are proud to partner with Rakaa Security and Military Supplies, a company that shares our vision of providing innovative and practical solutions for the security and military needs of the Kingdom and the region. We believe that our complementary skill sets and experience will create a strong synergy and a competitive edge in the industry,” he said.
The companies in the partnership have complementary skill sets that include engineering, simulation, prototype development, and advanced automotive and destructive testing.
Furthermore, they have capabilities in industrialisation and manufacturing, as well as an after-market support network coupled with their advanced manufacturing reputation.
OTT Technologies is one of only three companies worldwide with a UN long-term agreement (LTA) for MRAP vehicles. Moreover, some of the company’s latest vehicles have received accolades for having performed exceptionally well during gruelling UAE summer trials.
ADG Mobility has “formidable” design, development and testing capabilities, coupled with many significant global partnerships. Its product development experience ranges from multiple 4×4, 6×6 and numerous third-party 8×8 solutions.