OMC (South Africa)
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OMC is the initialism under which the Olifant Manufacturing Company of South Africa was most commonly known during its existence. It was established specifically for the task of creating the Olifant tank for the South African Army. Today it is part of BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa, itself a division of BAE Systems Land and Armaments.
OMC's existence as an independent company was short-lived however, and early into its life it was taken over by Reunert, which subsequently turned it into a division called Reumech OMC. It was under this name that OMC saw its most prolific level of vehicle development, as the SA Army's involvement in the Border War in Angola created a massive need for ever more advanced and capable vehicles.
Vehicles created by the company during this period include the Rooikat AFV, Okapi, Mamba APC, Casspir APC and the 6x6 chassis used by the G6 howitzer.
Following South Africa's readmittance to the international arena following democratic elections in 1994, a number of foreign defence industry companies expressed significant interest in purchasing the company. Eventually it was Britain's Vickers that won, purchasing the company and renaming it Vickers OMC. This continued until Alvis, also of Britain, purchased Vickers' defence division, including OMC. Continuing with tradition, Alvis renamed the company to Alvis OMC.
The most recent chapter in the company's history was written in 2004, when BAE Systems purchased the military vehicle division of Alvis. OMC then became part of BAE Systems' Land Systems, again undergoing a name change to Land Systems OMC.
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