On September 15, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, François Bausch, announced the government’s decision to acquire 80 armored Command, Liaison and Reconnaissance Vehicles (CLRV) for the Luxembourg Army. The CLRVs which are based on the EAGLE V will replace the current «Hummer» and «PRV» (Protected Reconnaissance Vehicle) vehicles, which have become obsolete.
Luxembourg Army to procure 80 armored Command, Liaison and Reconnaissance Vehicles (CLRV) based on Eagle V from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS)
«The decision is based on three aspects. First, and this is the most important in my opinion, that our soldiers are best protected when deployed on a mission. Second, to modernize our equipment and increase our operational capabilities and third, to ensure interoperability within the army and with our allies», explained the Minister of Defense, François Bausch during the press conference.
The acquisition has been carried out with the support of specialized teams from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), which will also provide logistical and technical support throughout the life cycle of the new CLRVs.
The selected vehicle system consists of three components:
The EAGLE V from the GDELS, comprising suitable protection against mines, explosive devices and small caliber gunfire and very good all-terrain performance;
The remotely operated firing station DeFNder Medium from FN HERSTAL, protecting the shooter and equipped with day and night cameras and smoke canisters; and
The SCORPION communication system from THALES, interoperable with the Armed Forces of Belgium and France.
«After the recent purchase of the EAGLE V 6×6 as Protected Ambulance Vehicle (PAV), GDELS is very proud to contribute another important capability to the Luxembourg Army with the EAGLE V 4×4 CLRV. EAGLE V 4×4 and/or 6×6 user nations now comprise Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland», said Doctor Thomas Kauffmann, Vice President GDELS International Business & Services.
The Austrian Ministry of Defense awarded a contract on October 30, 2020 to General Dynamics European Land Systems-Steyr (GDELS-Steyr) for the delivery of 30 Pandur 6×6 Evolution (Evo) wheeled armored vehicles. The new vehicles are designed as Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) and can be quickly converted into other roles such as CASEVAC (casualty evacuation) due to their modular design.
GDELS awarded a contract for the delivery of Pandur 6×6 Evolution to Austria
In addition to the 34 vehicles purchased in 2016 and based in the center of excellence at the Jägerbataillon 17 in Straß/Styria, the Austrian Armed Forces will operate a fleet of 64 new Pandur 6×6 Evo. Deliveries will be made in 2022 and 2023.
Since 1996, the Pandur has successfully served in domestic and international peacekeeping missions. The significantly modernized version of the Pandur MTPzUN, the Pandur Evo, offers an unmatched compact vehicle design with a crew of 11 soldiers, superior mobility, and a significantly increased level of protection against mines and IED threats. The vehicles will be completely manufactured in Austria benefiting the local economy and securing hundreds of skilled jobs. More than 200 suppliers, mainly SMEs, are involved in this program.
«We are very proud that we have been awarded this important contract. The cooperation with the Austrian Armed Forces is excellent and underlines the great satisfaction with our products. In addition, this order secures hundreds of high-tech jobs due to the Austrian added value», explains Martin Reischer, Managing Director of GDELS-Steyr. «We would like to thank the Austrian Armed Forces very much for their high confidence in us and our vehicle systems. Austria is one of our home-markets and as a reliable partner, we are fully committed to deliver these vehicles on cost, quality, and schedule», Dr. Thomas Kauffmann, GDELS Vice President for International Business & Services, added.
On January 12, 2018, General Dynamics European Land Systems signed a contract to deliver up to 227 PIRANHA 5 wheeled armored vehicles in six different configurations to the Romanian Armed Forces. The contract has a total value exceeding $1 billion. It is part of the Romanian Army’s plan to modernize its legacy wheeled armored vehicle fleet.
General Dynamics European Land Systems Awarded $1 Billion Contract to Deliver PIRANHA 5 Wheeled Armored Vehicles to Romanian Army
Prime Minister Mihai Tudose and Deputy Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu attended the signing ceremony held at the National Defense Ministry headquarters.
The modern PIRANHA 5 vehicles will be produced in Romania under a strategic cooperation and transfer of technology project between General Dynamics European Land Systems – Mowag and the Romanian company Uzina Mecanică București (UMB).
Since 2006, the Romanian Armored Forces has fielded variants of PIRANHA vehicles which have been deployed in various missions in-country and abroad, demonstrating its reliability and performance.
«The Romanian Army is one of the most important PIRANHA users in Europe. We are very honored by this contract award as it reflects the high confidence and satisfaction the Romanian Army has in our vehicles», said Oliver Dürr, Vice President Wheeled Vehicles and Managing Director of General Dynamics European Land Systems – Mowag.
«With this step, we have established a sustainable collaboration with a trusted partner which has a significant industrial footprint in Romania», said Thomas Kauffmann, General Dynamics European Land Systems Vice President International Business & Services. «The transfer of technology and the local production of these vehicles present an enormous opportunity to the Romanian industry».
With more than 11,000 systems fielded, the PIRANHA is one of the most successful 8×8 wheeled armored vehicles in the world.
The Piranha Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), a member of the Piranha family of vehicles, was officially presented on April 27th at the Military polygon Tylbeto near the city of Kazanlak in Bulgaria. The Military Unit Tylbeto in Kazanlak hosted the vehicle demonstration event, with a broad military audience, state officials and authorities and local industry in attendance.
General Dynamics European Land Systems demonstrates the Piranha 8×8 Wheeled Armoured Vehicle to the Bulgarian Army (GDELS photo)
Together with its partners, General Dynamics Mission Systems and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, General Dynamics European Land Systems successfully conducted the three-day vehicle demonstration and live firing event with a Piranha IFV equipped with a 30-mm NATO-compliant remote controlled weapon station, an anti-tank guided missile system and a fully integrated communication information system. The vehicle is a candidate for the Bulgarian Army’s Battalion Battle Group acquisition project.
«General Dynamics European Land Systems is honoured to have the opportunity to present the full range of the Piranha system capabilities to the Bulgarian Army. With our proven technology and advanced system capabilities, we are confident in our ability to provide the Bulgarian Army with a compliant solution», said Doctor Thomas Kauffmann, Vice President of International Business & Services of General Dynamics European Land Systems.
The Piranha IV, armed with a 30-mm remote-controlled weapon station and an anti-tank guided missile system, seen here during its demonstration in Bulgaria, where it is competing for the Battalion Battle Group contract (GDELS photo)
About General Dynamics European Land Systems
General Dynamics European Land Systems, headquartered in Madrid, Spain, is a business unit of General Dynamics (GD), and conducts its business through five European operating sites located in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain and Switzerland. With over 1,800 highly skilled technical employees, the company designs, manufactures and delivers world-class land combat systems, including wheeled, tracked and amphibious vehicles, bridge systems, armaments and munitions, to global customers.
General Dynamics European Land Systems S.L. (GDELS), through its Switzerland-based subsidiary GDELS-Mowag, has been notified by the Ministry of Defense of Denmark that the PIRANHA 5 Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) has been selected as the new Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) for the Danish Armed Forces. The contract from the Danish Ministry of Defense will include the acquisition of a minimum of 206 new armoured personnel carriers, with the exact number to be determined at a later date.
Denmark will purchase a minimum of 206 PIRANHA 5s, with the number potentially rising to 450
«General Dynamics European Land Systems is very proud to have been selected to supply its PIRANHA 5 to the Danish Armed Forces as it underlines the confidence and satisfaction of our Danish customer», said Alfonso Ramonet, president of General Dynamics European Land Systems. «General Dynamics European Land Systems looks forward to a close and cooperative relationship with the Danish Ministry of Defense in their selection of a new generation of armored vehicles».
«We are confident that this program and the PIRANHA 5 in particular will guarantee the best protection for the Danish troops and provide the best value for the Danish industrial base. We will work with the Danish Ministry of Defense, our local industry partner Falck Schmidt Defense Systems and other Danish industry to provide the best solution and to meet our customer’s requirements on turn-around time, on-time delivery, cost-effective support and best value», said Alfonso Ramonet.
General Dynamics European Land Systems, headquartered in Madrid, Spain, is a business unit of General Dynamics, and conducts its business through five European operating sites located in Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Czech Republic.
In Royal Danish Army service the PIRANHA 5 will replace the M113 series of tracked APCs
PIRANHA 5
Highly mobile, armored multi-role wheeled vehicle with a high payload and a large internal volume. The PIRANHA 5 provides protection against current threats. Its integrated modular and adaptable survivability system can also be tailored to protect against future threats.
The economic Fuel Efficient Drivetrain System (FEDS) and the high performance diesel engine provide the expected power and cruising range. There is still growth potential in the area of hybrid power boost technology.
The semi-active hydro-pneumatic suspension system with height management allows the highest mobility and provides excellent ride comfort for the crew. The open vehicle architecture with health/usage monitoring system allows for rapid system integration, data exchange between onboard systems and future growth.
The wheeled PIRANHA 5 is technologically one of the most advanced armoured wheeled vehicles, built on international battlefield experience. The inherent growth potential and power reserves will provide the Danish Armed Forces the ability to upgrade the vehicle over the lifetime in accordance with new evolving requirements in the future. It builds on the heritage of the PIRANHA vehicle family already in service with the Danish Armed Forces, which has been proven in international operations.
For the Danish requirement the PIRANHA 5 had competed in trials against one other 8×8, the Nexter Systems Véhicule Blindé de Combat d’Infanterie, and three tracked offerings: the FFG Flensburger Protected Mission Module Carrier G5, BAE Systems Armadillo and General Dynamics European Land Systems – Santa Barbara Sistemas ASCOD 2
Product Features
WEIGHTS (approximately)
Empty weight
17.0 t/37,478.6 lbs
Payload
13.0 t/28,660.1 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
30.0 t/66,138.7 lbs
DIMENSIONS (approximately)
Overall length
8.00 m/26.2467 feet
Height over hull
2.34 m/7.67717 feet
Overall width
2.99 m/9.80971 feet
Angle of approach
45°
Angle of departure
35°
Number of seats
up to 13
PERFORMANCES WITH GVW
Maximum speed on roads
62 mph/100 km/h
Creep speed
1.8 mph/3 km/h
Gradient
60 %
Maximum side slope
40 %
Maximum step climbing
0.75 m/2.46063 feet
Fording depth
1.50 m/4.92126 feet
Trench crossing capability
2.00 m/6.56168 feet
Turning circle (curb-to-curb)
15.0 m/49.2126 feet
Range on roads (mix of road/off-road driving)
550 km/342 miles
Operating voltage
28 V DC
Power-to-weight ratio
14.3 kW/t (19.3 hp/t)
ENGINE
Type
MTU
Fuel
Diesel
Performance
430 kW/580 hp
Torque
2000 Nm
TRANSMISSION
Type
ZF-Ecomat
Mode of operation
Automatic
Number of gears
7+1 r.
DRIVELINE AND SUSPENSION
Axles
All wheel drive
Fuel Efficient Drive train System (FEDS)
Wheels and tires
14.00/R 20 or 16.00/R 20 with Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS), run-flat inserts
Suspension system
Height-adjustable, semi-active, hydropneumatic suspension system, independent on all wheel stations
Shock absorbers
Hydraulic, integrated in the hydro elements
Brakes system
Pneumatic double-circuit brake with 6-channel ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
AMPHIBIOUS KIT (OPTION)
Seawater cooling system
Closable louvres of engine grills
Water propulsion
2 propellers
Steering control
2 twin rudders
Trim van and snorkel system
PROTECTION
Modular integrated protection layout
Baseline vehicle is designed for the highest level of protection against mine and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) threats
Latest shielding technology against Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) threats
Add on armour for different protection levels with coverage >95%
Provision for the Active Protection System (APS)
ARMAMENT (EXAMPLE)
Remotely controlled light weapon stations up to heavy turret/gun systems
EQUIPMENT
Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) overpressure system
Fire-suppression system for the crew compartment
A/C system
Arctic kit
Integrated starter generator for 100 kW external power
Modular electronics architecture (VECTRONICS, MILCAN, HUMS),upgradeable according to customer requirements
BUILT-IN GROWTH POTENTIAL
Gross Vehicle Weight rating
33.0 t/72,752.5 lbs
Hybrid boost power
+100 kW
Latest protection kit
Electronic architecture
Lethality
According to the MoD, the selection of the PIRANHA 5 was made «after thorough examination and evaluation of suppliers’ offers and testing of the vehicles»
