US to supply French-made APCs to African countries

[Zarvan]

A Bastion APC. Source: Mack Defense
The US military's Africa Command (AFRICOM) has ordered ACMAT Bastion armoured personnel carriers (APCs) for several African countries via the US company Mack Defense.

The USD25 million contract was announced on 25 September when the US Department of Defense said that Mack Defense will supply 62 APCs to Cameroon, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tunisia, and Uganda on behalf of AFRICOM, but did not identify the vehicles or say how many each country will receive.

Mack Defense told IHS Jane's on 6 October that all the vehicles are Bastion APCs: a type made by the French company ACMAT, which is owned by Renault Trucks Defense. Mack Defense and Renault Trucks Defense are part of the Volvo group.

The original Bastion APC consists of the chassis from ACMAT's VLRA range fitted with an armoured body that offers protection up to the STANAG 4569 standard. It is now also available with a new high-mobility chassis with independent suspension. It has a gross vehicle weight of 12 tonnes and can carry up to 10 people, including the driver.

Mack Defense said 32 Bastion APCs will be delivered to Somalia next year, 17 for the Ugandan contingent of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and another 13 for AMISOM's Somali contingent. (The Somali National Army operates alongside AMISOM, but is not formally part of the force.)

Four will be delivered to Tunisia, 15 to Cameroon, and 12 to Ethiopia before the end of October 2016, according to Mack Defense. All the countries will also receive at least one spares kit.

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US to supply French-made APCs to African countries - IHS Jane's 360

 

[xperia]

Well why can't France supply "french made" APCs to african countries?
It reminds of a famous ad painted at so many places in pakistan "karachi ki mashoor peshawari ice cream"

 

[Mughal-Prince]

Well why can't France supply "french made" APCs to african countries?
It reminds of a famous ad painted at so many places in pakistan "karachi ki mashoor peshawari ice cream"

It seems that this APC is license built in USA with some Defence contractor and been paid by American aid to these countries. Now you say why to choose French instead of American then I would say it MAY BE due to systems compatibility or may be political issues not sure.

 

[Penguin]

Mack Defence LLCs product line does not include the above vehicle.
» Products

However,

Mack Defense, LLC is now an approved vendor on the United Nations Web Buy Program for Large Trucks. Here buyers are able to choose from a variety of heavy trucks and tractors to support disaster relief, peacekeeping and infrastructure projects. Using our global aftermarket support system, customers can choose Mack products in any of the regions represented below.

» Types » United Nations

The African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) is a peace keeping mission operated by the AU in Somalia with approval by the UN.

I also recall US delivering e.g. Russian helicopters to Iraq. Some of this may also simply be a way to use this particular product but routing it in such a way so that it can be provided to the receiving countries as military aid.

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

Well why can't France supply "french made" APCs to african countries?

US repaying France for the Mistrals fiasco.