Nigerian-based Proforce Defence has been awarded a contract to supply light armoured vehicles to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) under it’s ongoing Deep Blue Project.
Proforce Defence has already delivered since May this year, the first batch of 16 armoured personnel carrier to the Nigerian government, these will help the Nigerian government beef up security on the Niger Delta region, and will be used to patrol volatile areas in the same region.
The contract, according to NIMASA is handled by Israeli firm HLSI-Blue Octagon, and will see the acquisition of several land, sea and aerial based platforms including two special mission naval vessels manufactured by Shipyard de Hoop, 17 fast interceptor boats delivered by De Haas Maasluis, two Leonardo AW 109 helicopters and two Cessna Citation Jet CJ3 type ISR (intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance) aircraft that will be equipped by Bird Aerosystems.
Proforce Defence is Nigeria’s leading developer of armoured vehicles, small patrol boats as well as overhauling of assorted armoured vehicles. One of the company’s successful product is the Ara Mine resistant and ambush protected vehicle. Proforce also produces the PF2 light armoured vehicle, and the improvised armoured combat vehicle (a reinforced Hilux truck).
When fully operational, Deep Blue Project would drastically reduce piracy and other crimes within Nigeria’s maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea.