Kreuzlingen (Switzerland) -- The PIRANHA, the latest member of the PIRANHA family of 8x8 wheeled vehicles of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), which has been selected by the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) for the Armoured Personal Carrier (APC) requirement, enters the next stage in the procurement program.

After the selection in 2015 and only 16 months after contract signature, the first vehicles in serial configuration have been handed over to DALO in the ceremony today at General Dynamics European Land Systems-Mowag (GDELS-Mowag) facilities in Kreuzlingen (Switzerland).

The first seven pre-series vehicles, which are built in the Infantry Vehicle configuration, will now undergo a comprehensive test program, starting in the second half of 2017. The test program includes climate acceptance tests (hot and cold conditions), a verification acceptance test and will be concluded with the user acceptance test by the end of 2017. Upon successful completion of the test program, deliveries will start early in 2018.

The Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistic Organization (DALO) signed the contract for the delivery of 309 PIRANHA Armored Personal Carriers in six variants (Infantry, Command, Ambulance, Engineer, Mortar and Repair), as well as a multi-year sustainment contract for the through life support of the vehicles in the future.

PIRANHA has been designed from the outset with adaptability, flexibility and growth capacity as the corner stones of the design. Wheeled armoured combat vehicles now form the core of a deployable land forces combat power and for this reason they need to be effective across the complete spectrum of conflict from peace keeping countering insurgency. PIRANHA has the capacity to fill all battlefield roles such as APC, Ambulance, Repair and Recovery, Command, Mortar including Direct Fire capability with turrets of up to 120 mm calibre. This provides growth potential to secure a long service life for the vehicle as new technologies emerge and need it.

The PIRANHA sets a new survivability benchmark for the wheeled armoured combat vehicle class and provides the highest levels of mine, improvised explosive device (IED) and ballistic protection. PIRANHA has a next generation, full coverage, modular survivability system that has been integrated in the vehicle design from the concept stage. This system provides unparalleled all round protection, particularly in the wheel well area that has traditionally been vulnerable to IEDs on wheeled armoured combat vehicles. In addition to these modular systems, substantial advances have been made in crew ergonomics, energy absorbing seating and occupant restraint systems that further improve the survivability of the PIRANHA when facing the threats of today and tomorrow.

PIRANHA features the latest height adjustable McPherson strut suspension technology which endows the vehicle with an extraordinary level of cross country mobility. This suspension in combination with the high output power pack, fourth axle steering and integrated driver support systems ensures PIRANHA has the highest level of terrain accessibility and is the most agile wheeled armoured combat vehicle available today.

Sergyi Way
19.05.2017

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