- ‘Simha Is More Than a Vehicle—It Is a Symbol of India-South Africa Defence Collaboration’
- Set for Global Markets as Paramount and Kalyani Deepen Collaboration
By Sangeeta Saxena
Parc Des Expositions, Paris/New Delhi. 22 June 2026. The launch of the Simha Light Armoured Vehicle at Eurosatory 2026 marked another milestone in the growing defence partnership between South Africa’s Paramount and India’s Bharat Forge-Kalyani Group. Designed jointly by engineering teams from both countries, Simha represents a new generation of highly mobile, protected vehicles aimed at meeting the operational needs of armed forces, border security agencies and paramilitary organisations worldwide.
In this exclusive conversation with ADU, Eric Ichikowitz, Senior Vice President, Paramount, discusses the significance of the Simha programme, the strength of the Paramount-Kalyani relationship, opportunities in global markets and the future of Indo-South African defence cooperation.
ADU. We are here at Eurosatory in Paris and yesterday you launched a very major programme with Kalyani. Since I am Indian, my interest is naturally in that project. Could you tell us about it?
Eric Ichikowitz.Yesterday we launched a new light armoured vehicle that has been jointly developed 
between Paramount and Kalyani. It is an extension of our existing relationship, which has been extremely fruitful and rewarding for both companies and, I believe, for both countries as well. The programme has allowed us to combine Paramount’s design and engineering capability with the industrial and manufacturing expertise that Kalyani has effectively developed over the years.
Kalyani has taken our engineering concepts, helped prototype the vehicle, industrialised the product and successfully put it through trials. The category itself is exciting because it fills an important gap in our product range. It is also a platform for which we see significant demand across Africa, South America, Southeast Asia and Europe.
ADU. Where will the manufacturing facilities for this vehicle be located?
Eric Ichikowitz. The vehicle will be manufactured both in South Africa and at Kalyani’s facilities in Pune, India. One of the most exciting aspects of this collaboration is that it creates an elastic supply chain capable of responding effectively to customer demand across different markets.
ADU. Is this project linked to a specific order, or are you developing it first and then taking it to market?
Eric Ichikowitz. There are several active programmes around the world looking for vehicles in this category. We already have two or three prospective customers evaluating this type of platform, and Kalyani is also pursuing programmes where this category of vehicle is highly relevant. What makes Simha particularly unique is that it provides Level 2 protection along with underfloor mine protection. The vehicle has been designed specifically to meet the requirements of armed forces operating in active conflict environments around the world.
ADU. Would the vehicle also be useful for homeland security applications?
Eric Ichikowitz. Absolutely.We see opportunities for border patrol agencies and gendarmerie-type 
organisations, particularly in Africa and South America. The platform is highly suited for internal security and border management roles in addition to conventional military operations.
ADU. What are the timelines? When will we actually see the vehicle operationally?
Eric Ichikowitz. The first vehicles have already been produced.We are currently industrialising a demonstrator in South Africa and expect to showcase it at the African Aerospace and Defence Exhibition later this year. The first prototypes have already been built at Kalyani’s facilities. The trials have gone exceptionally well. The vehicle successfully passed all major pre-end-user trials, which suggests that the designers and engineers have truly developed something special.
ADU. Marketing must be a critical part of such a programme. Will marketing be carried out jointly?
Eric Ichikowitz. Yes, absolutely. One of the most exciting aspects of the programme is that it is a genuinely joint development effort. The intellectual property has been jointly established by both organisations. It has been remarkable to see young Indian engineers working alongside young South African engineers and how effectively they have collaborated. I have been particularly impressed by the speed with which Kalyani has developed a world-class engineering capability capable of undertaking projects of this complexity. Today we see ourselves as one team rather than two separate organisations. The project operates as an unincorporated joint venture.
The objective has always been to combine South African enineering expertise with India’s exceptional engineering talent to create a platform capable of competing globally. We have therefore decided to establish a joint marketing team. Both organisations bring unique strengths, and together we believe we can successfully position the platform in international markets.
ADU. Paramount is a very well-known name. Could you tell our audience something about the company?
Eric Ichikowitz. Paramount has been operating in the defence and security sector for more than 33 years. We are very proud of our history, legacy and achievements. Today, Paramount is a global organisation engaged in manufacturing, marketing and supporting defence customers across all five continents. We have a unique capability because we possess strong industrial and engineering expertise across the land, sea and air domains. In addition, we have a significant integration capability that enables us to work with OEMs from around the world and integrate systems onto both legacy and new platforms.
We also operate a major infrastructure development business focused on border security, forward operating bases, military infrastructure, airports and helipads. Paramount remains a family-owned organisation with active involvement from the founding family. We are proud of our heritage and our values.
ADU. In India, we often talk about “Make in India.” Is there a similar national drive in South Africa?
Eric Ichikowitz. Not really in the same way. However, we are fortunate as a family to have grown up believing deeply in Africa’s potential. We see Africa as one collective opportunity and have dedicated ourselves to building globally competitive defence and security capabilities from the continent. Today our platforms operate in both conflict zones and peacekeeping missions around the world. Our engineering capabilities are world-class. We regularly compete against major Western and American companies, and in many cases our technologies are equally capable or even superior. That is one of the reasons we are so excited by what organisations like Kalyani are achieving in India.
India is building industrial competence of truly global significance.What has been achieved in such a short time is remarkable and reflects the commitment of business leaders such as the Kalyani family, who have invested heavily in creating capabiliy not only for domestic requirements but also for international markets.
ADU. What are qualities unique to Simha vehicle?
Eric Ichikowitz. One of the design principles behind Simha was precisely its suitability for both defence and security applications.It is a true light armoured vehicle, with a weight category that makes rapid deployment possible. It combines mobility, speed and handling characteristics that provide significant operational advantages to users. At the same time, its carrying capacity, systems integration capability and logistics footprint make it a highly versatile platform. We are extremely proud of what has been achieved with Simha.
ADU. Once the vehicle enters service, will there be post-sale support and maintenance arrangements?
Eric Ichikowitz. Absolutely. Lifecycle support is a critical component of every platform we deliver.This is 
another area where the partnership between Paramount and Kalyani creates tremendous synergy.Both organisations are fully committed to supporting vehicles throughout their operational life. The sale of a platform is really only the beginning of the relationship.Thereafter comes the responsibility to maintain, support and upgrade the vehicle throughout its lifecycle. The Simha has been designed with maintainability in mind to ensure maximum operational availability and uptime.
ADU. Since Simha is different from existing vehicles, will soldiers require specialised training?
Eric Ichikowitz. Absolutely. The induction of a new platform is not just about commissioning the vehicle itself. It also requires training for operators, drivers, commanders and troops who will use the platform. Equally important is the training of technicians and maintenance personnel responsible for supporting the vehicle in the field. Training therefore forms an integral part of the overall programme.
ADU. Is there anything you would like to add?
Eric Ichikowitz. I would once again like to emphasise the importance of our relationship with Kalyani, which is an ambitious industrial partner. They support our industrial programmes across different parts of the world.The relationship extends beyond simply developing platforms. It is about building a stronger industrial partnership between South Africa and India. That relationship is immensely valuable and forms the foundation for future cooperation between our two organisations and our two countries.
The launch of the Simha Light Armoured Vehicle represents more than the introduction of a new defence platform—it symbolises the growing maturity of international industrial partnerships in the defence sector. By combining South African design expertise with Indian manufacturing strength, Paramount and Kalyani have created a platform aimed at global markets while simultaneously strengthening defence ties between the two nations. For Eric Ichikowitz, the real success lies not merely in the vehicle itself, but in the collaborative model behind it—one that brings together engineering talent, industrial capability and shared ambition to create solutions for the security challenges of tomorrow.
As told to Sangeeta Saxena
