Proforce Limited, a Nigerian company specialized in armoured vehicles and personal protection, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kia Corp., South Korea’s second-largest automaker, to supply Proforce with drivelines for its military vehicles. The MOU was signed at the World Defence Show 2024 in Riyadh Saudi Arabia, where both companies showcased their latest innovations in defense technology.
Some of the products that Proforce has exhibited are the Ara 2 MRAP, a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle that can withstand blasts and ballistic threats; the PF-2 Armoured Personnel Carrier, a versatile and modular vehicle that can transport troops and equipment in various terrains; and some of its drones, such as a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle that can perform reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition missions.
According to Proforce’s social media channel, the MOU “proves our commitment to quality and performance as this will ensure our armoured vehicles are top class. We are breaking new grounds to ensure that our products and services are unmatched in quality.” The details of the agreement have not yet been released, but it is expected that the drivelines will enhance the mobility and durability of Proforce’s vehicles, which are designed for various terrains and environments.
Kia, which has been a defense industry company since 1973, unveiled its next-generation military vehicle technologies at the world defence show 2024 for the first time, hoping to make quick inroads into the global defense market with its latest mobility technologies. Kia’s medium standard vehicle, which can carry up to 16 people and cross a 1-meter-deep stream, will replace the carmaker’s existing 2.5 to 5-ton tactical vehicles. Kia also displayed the medium standard vehicle’s bare chassis vehicle, which can be modified into different special vehicles based on customers’ diverse needs and purposes. Kia’s light tactical vehicle and hydrogen-powered all-terrain vehicle (ATV) concept vehicle were also on display.
Kia has been providing its top-notch system guaranteeing maximum combat power sustained by various vehicle types that satisfy the requirements of military authorities, strategic experiences, and ideal logistics support. Based on its recognized quality of its military vehicles, tried and tested by the military forces of Korea, Kia supplies vehicles to 20 foreign counties including the Philippines, Indonesia, and Chile. The company also makes local productions in foreign countries to support their industrialization, in cooperation with their governments. These situations help securing mutually beneficial military and diplomatic partnerships/relationships with those countries.
The MOU between Proforce and Kia is a sign of the growing collaboration and innovation in the defense industry, as well as the potential for expanding the market for both companies in Africa and beyond.