More Pandur for the Federal Army

The Austrian Federal Ministry of Defense (BMLV) has commissioned General Dynamics European Land Systems-Steyr to deliver an additional 30 armored wheeled vehicles of the PANDUR 6x6 Evolution (Evo) type on October 30, 2020. The vehicles are designed as Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) and are factory-prepared in a modular way so that they can be converted, for example, into a CASEVAC variant for the rescue of wounded individuals if necessary. Together with the 34 vehicles purchased in 2016, which are located at the Competence Center "PANDUR Evo" in the 17th Infantry Battalion in Straß / Styria, the Austrian Armed Forces will operate a fleet of 64 new PANDUR Evo vehicles in the future. Deliveries will take place in 2022 and 2023.

The Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) PANDUR has been successfully used domestically and in peacekeeping missions abroad since 1996. The extensively modernized version of the PANDUR IFV, the PANDUR Evo, in addition to its highly compact vehicle design and outstanding mobility, offers significantly improved crew protection against mine threats and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). A crew of 11 soldiers can be transported in total.

The vehicle is completely manufactured in Austria. The high proportion of Austrian value-added benefits the domestic economy and secures highly qualified jobs in Austria. Overall, more than 200 Austrian partners, mainly SMEs, are involved in this program. "We are very proud to have received this important contract. The cooperation with the Austrian Armed Forces is excellent and underscores satisfaction with our products. In addition, this contract secures hundreds of jobs in a high-tech sector due to the high Austrian value added," explains Mag. Martin Reischer, CEO of GDELS-Steyr. "We would like to thank the Austrian Armed Forces very much for the trust they have placed in us and our vehicles. Austria is our domestic market and as a reliable and high-performance partner, we will deliver the PANDUR Evo within the agreed cost, quality, and time frame," adds Dr. Thomas Kauffmann, Vice President International Business & Services of General Dynamics European Land Systems.

Facts about PANDUR

The PANDUR vehicle family is available in 6x6 and 8x8 versions in terrestrial and amphibious configurations and serves as a base platform for various weapon and equipment systems. Thanks to its internal propulsion concept, it offers great mobility, survivability, and protection. The PANDUR ensures logistical uniformity, weapon and equipment diversity, easy operability, excellent sustainability, high availability, proven electronic architecture, and easy maintenance. GDELS-Steyr has built more than 3,000 armored vehicles (tracked and wheeled vehicles), of which more than 800 PANDUR platforms are in operation worldwide, with over 500 in NATO member countries.

About GDELS

General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), based in Madrid, Spain, is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) with European operations in over five locations: in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland. With around 2,200 highly skilled technical employees, the companies design, produce, and deliver first-class land combat systems, including wheeled, tracked, and amphibious vehicles, as well as bridge systems and weapons to global customers. For more information visit www.gdels.com.