General Dynamics and Portugal Finalize Pandur II Agreement

General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, and the government of Portugal have completed negotiations on the Pandur II 8x8 armored combat vehicle purchase announced December 2004.

The agreement worth €365 million or $482 million provides the necessary funding for the production of 260 Pandur II 8x8 armored combat vehicles. Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH of Austria, a General Dynamics company, will perform as the program manager and system integrator. Other companies of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems will be involved in this program with vehicle co-production in Portugal.

All in all, General Dynamics will produce up to 15 Pandur II medium-weight vehicle variants for the Army and Navy of Portugal. The Portuguese Navy will receive a variant suitable for amphibious operations. These vehicles feature high mobility and survivability as well as rapid deployment and ease of maintenance. The 260 vehicles will be delivered to Portugal beginning in September 2006 and will continue through December 2009.

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