Pandur II 8x8

Description: Pandur II is a wheel-drive family of medium armored combat vehicles composed of mission specific variants that provide different functionalities. Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH of Austria designed, developed and manufactures the Pandur II family of combat vehicles which entered service in 1996. Steyr company based in Vienna, Austria, was acquired by General Dynamics in the early 2000s turning into a part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics.

These amphibious vehicles have been optimized for superior survivability and mobility, and rapid deployment and maintenance. Moreover, weighing up to 20 tons Pandur II combat vehicles meet demanding force protection requirements on peacekeeping missions using a cost-effective, versatile, high-performance transportation system. To date, Pandur II have been ordered by Austria, Belgium, Kuwait, Slovenia, United States of America (US Army) and Portugal.

Elements common to Pandur II vehicles include two steered axle, 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. Fast and Easy maintenance can be done through a computer-based interactive maintenance and repair diagnostic system. The power plant can be removed and replaced by another unit in approximately 30 minutes.

Pandur II 8x8 is an eight-wheel drive, armored multi-purpose military vehicle that delivers top performance in all terrain or in any body of water. The vehicle can be configured for a wide range of missions from Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) to Fire Support Vehicle. It can be equipped with a wide range of cannons and guns of up to 105mm caliber. Pandur II 8x8 shares 90% parts commonality compared to 6x6 variant.

Pandur II 8x8 armored combat vehicle was selected by the Portuguese Ministry of Defense in early December 2004. These armored vehicles will be used by the Army and Navy of Portugal. The procurement contract for 260 Pandur II 8x8 vehicles was valued at €344 million and deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2006. In February 2005, General Dynamics and the government of Portugal reached a final agreement valued at €365 million. Deliveries were planned from September 2006 through December 2009.

On 26 January 2006 Czech Republic selected Pandur II 8x8 combat vehicle for its OT-64 replacement requirement. This decision was established with an order worth 23.6 billion Koruna ($1 billion) for 199 vehicles more 35 options to be produced in Austria and the Czech Republic. Deliveries were expected to run from 2007 through 2012.