Global Specialized Vehicles (GSV), a South African manufacturer of armored vehicles, has launched a vehicle type that offers a similar high level of protection to APCs, but can be driven legally on roads, allowing them to be used by commercial security companies for asset protection, security and money transfer services. .
Labeled “Ghost”, this 4×4 rantis came as a result of various inquiries from the public sector, who needed a vehicle that was better protected in terms of protection, and most importantly that it could be obtained and used legally by civilians.
GSV claims that the Ghost is the only vehicle in South Africa that offers such a high level of protection, but is completely road legal and can be driven by anyone with a Code 10 vehicle license.
The process of roadworthiness means that the vehicle must meet certain size and weight requirements. Its size and weight means it can be transported in standard 6 meter ISO shipping containers for easy deployment.
Ghost is intended for business and infrastructure protection, but will be available in seven different variants to meet the needs of customers, such as armored personnel carrier, law enforcement, ambulance and others. The configuration can be easily changed due to the modular design of the Ghost, including panels on the vehicle that are damaged can be replaced with minimal effort.
Quoted from defenseweb.co.za, it was stated that the development of Ghost was funded internally by GSV. And so far, Ghost has had a slew of orders, ranging from mining company clients to facility protection services firms. GSV sees future exports beyond South Africa, particularly on the African continent.
Production of the Ghost will commence soon with a production capacity of five to ten vehicles a month, at GSV's facility in Germiston. Vehicle materials (armor steel and glass) are supplied by accredited and certified suppliers.
GSV says it doesn't need a large number of orders for the vehicles to be produced, GSV claims it can build even with a single vehicle.
Ghost's first unit is almost complete in APC configuration, equipped with four side doors and one rear door. Apart from the driver and co-driver, ten people can sit in the back. It also has a gun port, roof hatch, and lookout post which can be extended to view walls and other obstacles, or stored flat. The optional mast is equipped with a low light level TV (LLTV) camera with 35x magnification, and a thermal imaging camera, enabling day and night use.
The standard Ghost variant comes with protection at B6 level, plus additional armor can be equipped depending on the customer's requirements.
- Press Costs, Collaboration with Isuzu
Keeping costs down is an important requirement for the vehicle, as it is not aimed at the higher-budget military market but the highly cost-conscious private security industry. One of the main ways the GSV keeps costs down is by using an Isuzu drivetrain.
It also means that maintenance can be done almost anywhere, and parts are widely available. GSV evaluated a number of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) before selecting Isuzu, as Isuzu has 100 percent joined GSV on the Ghost project.
Various diesel engines are available for 4×2 and 4×4 drive, as well as for manual and automatic configurations, and give the 6 ton vehicle a top speed of 120 km per hour, and a range of 500 km, but range can be doubled with an extra tank of fuel.
Designed for a high level of comfort and ease of use, Ghost is equipped with air conditioning, electronic mirrors with cameras, two 17-inch cab displays and a tablet docking station. Strobe lights come standard with the 6 ton winch.
Read: Germany Production of the Leopard 2A8 MBT – Rely on Situational Awareness and Extra Protection
GSV was founded in 2015 as an armor fitting specialist for luxury vehicles, providing protection from levels B4 to B6 (assault rifle) and above. If you look at what GSV has done with Ghost, it is more or less similar to what PT Pindad has done with Rantis Maung, which is also being offered to civilians with a Toyota Hilux turbo diesel engine.
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