Design work on the MC–90 concept demonstrator armoured car commenced in mid–1993 by Mecham Consultants, the specialised research and development arm of Denel. The prototype was completed in mid–1994 and it was shown for the first time late in 1994. In the designation MC–90, M stands for Mechem, C for Concept and 90

for the calibre of the main armament in mm. The vehicle has also been

referred to as the Springbok.

The MC–90 has an all–welded steel armoured hull that provides

protection from small arms fire and shell splinters. The driver is

seated at the front, with the two–man turret in the centre and the

power pack at the rear.

The driver has a single–piece hatch cover above his position and has forward observation through bulletproof windows to his front and sides.

In the left side of the hull there is a small door that opens to the front while in the right side there is a small door that opens to the rear. These allow the crew to quickly leave the vehicle.

To reduce procurement and life cycle costs the MC–90 armoured car uses proven components of the German Unimog (4 x 4) vehicle which is used by many countries for a wide range of civil and military roles.

Like all Mecham Consultants armoured vehicles, the hull has been designed to provide a very high degree of protection against anti–tank mines and combat weight is around 7 tonnes. The high ground clearance and large tyres give the MC–90 good cross–country mobility.

The MC–90 is fitted with the complete turret of the Eland 90 mm (4 x 4) armoured car covered in the previous entry which is being phased out of service in South Africa.

This turret is of welded steel armour with the commander, who also loads the 90 mm gun, seated on the left and the gunner seated on the right. The commander has a raised cupola for observation through a full 360º.

Armament comprises a combat–proven 90 mm gun fitted with a muzzle brake that fires various types of ammunition including High Explosive, High Explosive Anti–Tank and Smoke, a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and 7.62 mm machine gun on the commander's cupola. A bank of two electrically operated 81 mm smoke grenade dischargers are mounted either side of the turret firing forwards.

As some of the hulls of Eland 90 mm vehicle have been expanded as hard targets, quantities of complete turrets are already available at very low cost.