In April, General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) and Airbus Defence & Space (DS) successfully loaded a PIRANHA 5 8x8 Armoured Personal Carrier (APC) into an Airbus A400M cargo aircraft during an evaluation exercise. As part of the drill, the PIRANHA 5 was driven into the cargo compartment and completely tied-down according the airlift procedures.
The crew was able to easily load the vehicle in the cargo compartment of the aircraft, which can accommodate one PIRANHA 5 and 29 fully equipped soldiers. The objective was to validate the boarding of a PIRANHA 5 in the cargo compartment without any special preparation as part of a broader A400M evaluation process, demonstrating the transport capability of combat vehicles. The demonstration was conducted at Airbus DS site in San Pablo (Seville, Spain), which is the final assembly plant for the A400M.
Eight countries have placed orders for the A400M aircraft, including Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and Malaysia. Two NATO countries, Denmark and Spain, have selected the PIRANHA 5 as their future 8x8 vehicle platform (the Danish MoD has signed a contract for 309 PIRANHA 5, and the SpanishMoD selected PIRANHA 5 as platform for the integration of Spanish technologies and subsystems under an R&D contract for the future Wheeled Combat Vehicle - VCR in Spanish - project). The PIRANHA 5 will be displayed at Eurosatorty in the APC variant with the Danish Army’s camouflage pattern and the Spanish Army’s armoured vehicle colour. The PIRANHA 5 provides payloads of up to 15t and is available in variants including APC, IFV, Direct Fire (up to 120mm), Mortar, Electronic Warfare, Ambulance, Reconnaissance, Command Post and other specific designed roles. The PIRANHA 5 can carry up to nine soldiers, plus driver and commander, provides significant payload capacity for additional material and the highest levels of survivability against conventional and asymmetric threats while having the capacity to fulfil all battlefield roles. At Eurosatory, the PIRANHA 5 also displays a SOTM (Satellite on the Move) by General Dynamics Mission Systems, which will be demonstrated at the booth.
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The PIRANHA 5 is one of the most advanced and capable 8x8 wheeled armored wheeled vehicles and the top end of the PIRANHA vehicle family. In addition to its high level of protection, the PIRANHA 5 has a flexible and spacious crew compartment and tremendous payload. The inherent growth potential ensures the ability for future upgrades and technology insertion over the entire lifetime. In terms of mobility and maneuverability, the PIRANHA 5 with its efficient all-wheel drive, hydro-pneumatic suspension and 4th axle steering sets the top standard in this vehicle class. The PIRANHA family of vehicle is the most successful Western wheeled armored vehicle family - more than 11.500 PIRANHAs are successfully in service worldwide.
At Eurosatory 2016, GDELS will display the new PIRANHA 3+, recently selected by the Swiss Army for its Mortar Carrier programme (with RUAG's COBRA 120mm Mortar system).
With a GVW of 27t and a payload of up to 10t , the new PIRANHA 3+ will be presented in an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) configuration with dedicated seating for a crew of three (driver, gunner and vehicle commander) plus nine infantry soldiers.
It will be equipped with the new Oerlikon FIELDRANGER 20 remote-control gun from Rheinmetall Air Defence. This modern, medium-calibre remote-controlled weapon station provides accurate and high fire power at a range of up to 2,000m with a wide range of ammunition types. The Swiss Army has selected the PIRANHA 3+ platform for their Mortar Carrier programme with RUAG's COBRA 120mm Mortar system.
The new PIRANHA 3+ was developed in response to customer requirements for compact vehicles with large and flexible internal volume, high levels of modular protection, excellent off-road mobility and inherent growth capability. The new PIRANHA 3+ incorporates lessons learned from over 11,500 fielded PIRANHA and LAV vehicles around the globe.
For more coverage on this, please check back next week.
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| General Dynamics European Land Systems' (GDELS) PIRANHA 5 APC being loaded onto Airbus A400M transport aircraft. (Photos: GDELS) |
The crew was able to easily load the vehicle in the cargo compartment of the aircraft, which can accommodate one PIRANHA 5 and 29 fully equipped soldiers. The objective was to validate the boarding of a PIRANHA 5 in the cargo compartment without any special preparation as part of a broader A400M evaluation process, demonstrating the transport capability of combat vehicles. The demonstration was conducted at Airbus DS site in San Pablo (Seville, Spain), which is the final assembly plant for the A400M.
Eight countries have placed orders for the A400M aircraft, including Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and Malaysia. Two NATO countries, Denmark and Spain, have selected the PIRANHA 5 as their future 8x8 vehicle platform (the Danish MoD has signed a contract for 309 PIRANHA 5, and the SpanishMoD selected PIRANHA 5 as platform for the integration of Spanish technologies and subsystems under an R&D contract for the future Wheeled Combat Vehicle - VCR in Spanish - project). The PIRANHA 5 will be displayed at Eurosatorty in the APC variant with the Danish Army’s camouflage pattern and the Spanish Army’s armoured vehicle colour. The PIRANHA 5 provides payloads of up to 15t and is available in variants including APC, IFV, Direct Fire (up to 120mm), Mortar, Electronic Warfare, Ambulance, Reconnaissance, Command Post and other specific designed roles. The PIRANHA 5 can carry up to nine soldiers, plus driver and commander, provides significant payload capacity for additional material and the highest levels of survivability against conventional and asymmetric threats while having the capacity to fulfil all battlefield roles. At Eurosatory, the PIRANHA 5 also displays a SOTM (Satellite on the Move) by General Dynamics Mission Systems, which will be demonstrated at the booth.
The PIRANHA 5 is one of the most advanced and capable 8x8 wheeled armored wheeled vehicles and the top end of the PIRANHA vehicle family. In addition to its high level of protection, the PIRANHA 5 has a flexible and spacious crew compartment and tremendous payload. The inherent growth potential ensures the ability for future upgrades and technology insertion over the entire lifetime. In terms of mobility and maneuverability, the PIRANHA 5 with its efficient all-wheel drive, hydro-pneumatic suspension and 4th axle steering sets the top standard in this vehicle class. The PIRANHA family of vehicle is the most successful Western wheeled armored vehicle family - more than 11.500 PIRANHAs are successfully in service worldwide.
At Eurosatory 2016, GDELS will display the new PIRANHA 3+, recently selected by the Swiss Army for its Mortar Carrier programme (with RUAG's COBRA 120mm Mortar system).
With a GVW of 27t and a payload of up to 10t , the new PIRANHA 3+ will be presented in an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) configuration with dedicated seating for a crew of three (driver, gunner and vehicle commander) plus nine infantry soldiers.
 |
| At Eurosatory 2016, GDELS will display the new PIRANHA 3+ (with the new Oerlikon FIELDRANGER 20 remote-control gun from Rheinmetall Air Defence), recently selected by the Swiss Army for its Mortar Carrier programme (with RUAG's COBRA 120mm Mortar system) |
It will be equipped with the new Oerlikon FIELDRANGER 20 remote-control gun from Rheinmetall Air Defence. This modern, medium-calibre remote-controlled weapon station provides accurate and high fire power at a range of up to 2,000m with a wide range of ammunition types. The Swiss Army has selected the PIRANHA 3+ platform for their Mortar Carrier programme with RUAG's COBRA 120mm Mortar system.
The new PIRANHA 3+ was developed in response to customer requirements for compact vehicles with large and flexible internal volume, high levels of modular protection, excellent off-road mobility and inherent growth capability. The new PIRANHA 3+ incorporates lessons learned from over 11,500 fielded PIRANHA and LAV vehicles around the globe.
For more coverage on this, please check back next week.
For more information please see MILITARY TECHNOLOGY #06/2016, available at Eurosatory (13-17 June) in hall 6, stand #B197; and frequently check back for more NEWS FROM THE FLOOR.