General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) announces that on December 20, 2007 the Spanish Ministry of Defence and MOWAG GmbH signed a contract for a further batch of 21 units of the PIRANHA IIIC 8×8 in the amphibious version. Until recently, 18 PIRANHA IIIC 8x8s have been in operation with the Infanteria de Marina (Spanish Naval Marine corps), and this second order will consolidate the total fleet number to 39 units. The vehicles will be manufactured in Kreuzlingen and delivered from the year 2009 until 2014.
The newly signed contract comprises of 21 PIRANHA IIIC 8x8s in nine variants to fulfill specific operational roles including APC, fire capability, command post, engineering, ambulance, recovery and reconnaissance. MOWAG’s CEO, Christoph Frei, was proud and pleased about the close cooperation with Spain, declaring: “This contract is further proof of our customers’ confidence in the performance and reliability of our PIRANHA range, and of the good strategic partnership between the Spanish authorities and MOWAG GmbH.”
The PIRANHAs will be used primarily within the framework of international missions by Spanish Army. The threat situation in such missions specifically calls for a high level of protection for the vehicle crews against mines and ballistic weapons. With the PIRANHA IIIC 8×8, the technology-minded company from Kreuzlingen offers a proven vehicle, which fulfils this high-ranking requirement of protection. With its second order, the Infanteria de Marina continue to trust in the reliability and performance of the successful product from Kreuzlingen.
THE MOWAG PIRANHA IIIC 8X8 – A WELL-PROVEN PLATFORM
The PIRANHA IIIC has a length of 7.30m, a width of 2.66m, and a GVW of 22 t. The vehicle reaches a speed of up to 100 km/h on the road. The PIRANHA IIIC easily manages gradients of up to 60%, and fording depths of up to 1.50m. The 400 HP engine, together with the seven-speed automatic transmission, the modern independent wheel sus-pension, the tire pressure control system and the disengageable all-wheel drive give the PIRANHA IIIC a high degree of mobility even in difficult terrain. Moreover, the protection against ballistic threats and against mines provides the crew with a maximum degree of protection on a mission. The vehicle is equipped with all the necessary features (NBC system, autonomous power supply, A/C system, etc.) that are required for the 24-hour operation of integrated systems.
MOWAG GmbH of Kreuzlingen develops, designs and manufactures technologically advanced special vehicles for military use. More than 13,500 armoured and non-armoured wheeled vehicles of the MOWAG PIRANHA, MOWAG EAGLE, and MOWAG DURO series are in service worldwide. Since October of 2003, MOWAG is part of the General Dynamics European Land Systems group, and employs a qualified staff force of more than 600 at its Kreuzlingen site.
General Dynamics European Land Systems (GD ELS), headquartered in Vienna (Austria), is a business unit of General Dynamics Corporation and conducts its business through European operating sites located in Spain, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. With more than 3,250 highly skilled technical employees, GD ELS companies design, manufacture and deliver to global customers Land Combat Systems, including wheeled, tracked, and amphibious vehicles, armaments and munitions.