General Dynamics European Land Systems - Steyr (GDELS) will deliver another 225 wheeled armored vehicles PANDUR 6x6 EVO to the Austrian Armed Forces. A corresponding contract was signed today in the presence of Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner at GDELS-Steyr in Simmering.

The contract includes the delivery of state-of-the-art armored personnel carriers and flexible conversion kits for medical, command, and anti-tank missions, as well as eight additional vehicle variants that will be introduced into the Austrian Armed Forces. The PANDUR 6x6 EVO vehicle family will be complemented with variants such as 120mm mortar combat system, mobile air defense, and electronic warfare. The procurement is part of the "Modernization Plan 2032", which aims to comprehensively modernize the Austrian Armed Forces.

With the additional procurement, the Austrian Armed Forces' medium infantry forces will experience a significant increase in mobility, protection, and combat capability. "The procurement of an additional 225 Pandur Evolution vehicles in different variants is the largest procurement in 20 years for the Austrian Federal Army's land forces. With an investment volume of 1.8 billion euros, we are investing not only in the security of Austria, but also in the Austrian economy. This secures and creates jobs at over 220 companies. With the national production of Pandur, the value added in Austria is 70 percent," says Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner.

So far, 100 PANDUR EVO vehicles are under contract, with the third lot currently in production and delivery. The production of the now contracted fourth lot will seamlessly follow, enabling further investments and the establishment of highly qualified jobs at the production site in Vienna. "Since the signature of the first delivery lot in 2016, by involving more than 220 Austrian subcontractors, we have laid the foundation for high value creation in Austria. Based on this, the fourth delivery lot of over 225 PANDUR EVO vehicles represents a continued contribution to the protected mobility of the Austrian Armed Forces and allows us and our suppliers to hire more skilled workers and invest in the production site in Austria," says GDELS-Steyr CEO Martin Reischer. GDELS President Antonio Bueno adds: "Today's procurement decision marks an extraordinary milestone in the history of PANDUR and underscores the unique performance and multi-role capability of this wheeled armored vehicle family. Austria has always been one of the home countries of GDELS. We are proud to reaffirm our long-standing, proven partnership by providing continued delivery of powerful protected mobility to the Austrian Armed Forces. Furthermore, we are pleased to contribute, along with our many partner companies, to a sustainable economic value for Austria." ALL INFORMATION about the Pandur Evolution directly from the manufacturer GDELS.

GDELS online