MOWAG developed the Piranha Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) 10x10 from the earlier and highly successful Piranha 8x8 family of light armoured vehicles.

Compared to the earlier Piranha 8 x 8, the 10 x 10 ACV has a significant increase in internal volume and payload and can therefore be configured to undertake a wider range of battlefield missions. The ACV's maximum combat weight is 23 tonnes.

The first ACV prototype was completed in 1994 and fitted with a Giat Industries three-person TML105 turret armed with a 105mm gun and a computerised fire-control system.

The Piranha ACV has also been fitted with other weapon systems, including a Bofors Defence turret armed with a 40mm L/70 gun and 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. A specialised 40mm L/70 air-defence turret version is also available complete with advanced fire-control system and surveillance radar.

To date, the only customer for the Piranha ACV is Sweden, which has taken delivery of six vehicles for use in the command-post role and seven fitted with an Ericsson long-range air-defence surveillance radar mounted on a scissors-type mast. Projected variants include air defence (gun or missile), repair/recovery and load carrier.

Standard equipment includes a central tyre-inflation system with run-flat cores and powered steering on the front four wheels. Optional equipment includes larger tyres, additional armour, winch, fire-detection and -suppression system, arctic kit, air-conditioning system, heater, nuclear, biological and chemical defensive system and different types of power packs.

Swedish vehicles use a Scania DSJ9-48A diesel developing 400hp coupled to a ZF ECOMAT 7HP600 automatic transmission. The Piranha ACV is not amphibious.