Armored personnel carrier for the WEGA

“It is also important to react correctly and quickly in the field of equipment to the terrorist events in Vienna in November,” said Interior Minister Karl Nehammer on December 22 on the occasion of the handover of the new operational vehicle to the commander of the Special Unit WEGA, Colonel Ernst Albrecht, and continues: “Therefore, immediately after the use on the night of terror, I instructed to thoroughly examine the technical equipment for possible improvements as part of the overall analysis and above all to accelerate planned procurements. I am therefore pleased that we can already hand over this new armored personnel carrier to the Special Unit WEGA today, which is intended to ensure increased protection of the deployed forces in the future.” The failure of the constitutional protection service before the attack, which was also investigated in parallel, of course, does not compensate for this.

At WEGA, they can look forward to the Achleitner vehicle: The PMV SURVIVOR II (Protected Mission Vehicle) is equipped with a cabin that offers the highest security requirements against ballistic threats, mines, and IEDs as a monocoque cell. Based on a near-production chassis with a total vehicle weight of up to 17 tons. In addition, the vehicle has been provided with a modular structure, which allows the protective concept to be further expanded in the future. HERE you can find all information about the vehicle.

As part of the vehicle handover, three other technical equipment items were also presented. These include the expansion of the StG 77 assault rifle with functionalities that are particularly important for critical operations: Steyr is installing a rail with integrated sighting (which apparently was developed for a failed deal with Brazil). Furthermore, a new ballistic protective helmet in a particularly lightweight version, which is intended to complement the existing TITAN protective helmet, especially in operational situations where special mobility is required. As well as special mobile protective shields in different versions, which will ensure protection against bullets from Kalashnikovs in the future, especially in terrorist situations. The procurement procedures for these new operational equipment items have already been initiated. The WEGA commander in an interview about the anti-terrorism operation.

Could the attack have been prevented? HERE is the whole story of the Vienna terror night on SPARTANAT.