Czechs to Buy 199 Pandur II APCS for $1 billion

Defense Industry Daily ^ | 27-Jan-2006

[Cannoneer No. 4]

General Dynamics announced that the Czech Republic has selected General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems subsidiary Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH of Austria to supply the Czech army with 199 new eight-wheeled Pandur II armored personnel carriers (APCs) between 2007 and 2012. The vehicles will replace Soviet-era OT-64 SKOT APCS, and be produced in Austria and the Czech Republic.

As DID noted in its coverage of the initial contenders, the contract includes an option for 35 additional vehicles and has a potential value of Koruna 23.6 billion (approximately $1 billion). Steyr's Pandur II was a finalist alongside Patria's AMV (Armoured Modular Vehicle), which is currently in extensive service in neighboring Poland (690 AMVs) as well as in its native Finland (124 AMVs). A final contract between Steyr and the Czech Republic is expected to be signed by April 2006....

The Czech testing program included crossing open water, test drives on paved and off-road surfaces, boarding of soldiers, and loading on to and unloading from a C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft. As DID noted in our report on the two finalists, Czech Ministry of Defense spokesman Andrej Cirtek listed the three main criteria for the final decision as "the price, the participation of Czech industry, and the technical and tactical quality of the engines."

While the deal is not final, it would appear that Steyr has won on those criteria.

Like Patria's AMV, the Pandur II is a vehicle family of mission-specific variants. Common design elements include two steered axles, an independent suspension system and run-flat tires for advanced mobility, a high level of embedded armor protection, spall liners for the crew compartments, and drivetrain and steering linkages within the hull for superior survivability. A computer-based interactive maintenance and repair diagnostic system enables complete powerpack changes in approximately 30 minutes.

Current customers for the Pandur and Pandur II include Austria (68 Pandur, 129 Pandur II), Portugal (260 Pandur II, just purchased but controversial), Belgium (60 Pandur), Gabon (20 Pandur), Kuwaiti National Guard (70 Pandur), Slovenia (72 Pandur), the United States (50 Pandur 6×6 AGMS).

General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems is based in Vienna, Austria, and composed of three European land combat systems companies owned by General Dynamics:

General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas of Madrid, Spain MOWAG GmbH of Kreuzlingen, Switzerland Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH of Vienna, Austria

Postscript:

The RCWS-30 gun system pictured up top is RAFAEL's RCWS-30 Remote Controlled Weapon Station, which can be operated from inside a vehicle. It was included in the official Steyr release, and was part of the Czech trials on both Patria's AMV and Steyr's Pandur II. To DID's knowledge, however no formal contract has been signed as yet. The pictured system includes a 30mm cannon, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and two Spike-LR multi-purpose missiles, as well as various sensors and defensive systems. There is a patent pending on the mechanism it uses to fold down for air transport, and the system includes stabilization, auto-tracking and slaving features.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems owns Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH. General Dynamics Land Systems builds the Stryker and LAVIII. General Dynamics also owns MOWAG, who invented the Piranha, from which a whole slew of 6- and 8-wheeled armored cars have evolved.

Is anybody else confused?

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Eire Buys 15 More Pirahna IIIs for EUR 30M

[Cannoneer No. 4]

ping

[endthematrix]

I'll take mine with a 90mm and hellfire combo!

[Hexenhammer]

Bet it's a lot of fun to slosh around in the mud with that thing.

[Iris7]

Both the AMV and Pandur II seem capable weapons. The Israeli developed Gill - Spike systems look very efficient. I was not familiar with them.

I had no idea that General Dynamics has bought so many old European names. Interesting indeed.

Appreciate the post, and indeed logistics must be mastered thoroughly. I am reminded of the Wehrmacht's logistic mess in Russia. Guy Sajer's book has good stories about the German logistic experience in Russia (as well as the tactical and personal).

Imagine not cutting the only heavy Russian link with Stalingrad.

[Iris7]

I would appreciate being added to your ping list. Welcome back to the "world", as we used to say.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I wonder if it is available as a hybrid with airbags?

[rahbert]

Spike looks like a camera. Does it come with a little
bird on a stick?

[Cannoneer No. 4]

[Darksheare]

Another vehicle I'd like to use to chase woodchucks.

[cavtrooper21]

Mah new huntin' RV...
and comes already camo painted!!
COOL!!!!

[cavtrooper21]

WDF new vehicle ping!

[Vic3O3]

Just what Dave needs for that daily Central Expressway commute! ;)

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Runner-up to appeal Steyr's victory in army tender to supply APCs

Finnish weapons maker Patria will this week appeal against the result of a tender to supply armoured personnel carriers to the Czech army which was won by its Austrian competitor Steyr