The Czech Republic Deputy Defense for the Management of the Armaments and Acquisitions Section Lubor Koudelka and VladimÃr Matyáš, on behalf of the joint-stock company Tatra Defense Vehicle, signed a framework agreement for comprehensive service support for Pandur II vehicles. The new framework agreement builds on the previous contractual relationship with Tatra Defense Vehicle, which expired at the end of April 2020. It is worth CZK 2.39 billion ($102 million) including VAT and will be implemented in 2020-24. The framework agreement with the Czech supplier, which the government took note of on Monday, September 21, 2020, will ensure the provision of complete service support for equipment on the Pandur II 8×8 chassis.
The Pandur II 8×8 is an improved modular all-wheel-drive version of the Pandur 6×6 APC wheeled armoured vehicle. Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge is part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems, which is also the parent company of MOWAG of Switzerland and Santa Bárbara Sistemas of Spain. A first batch of 17 Pandur II were delivered to the Czech Army by 2012, with the remainder rolled out in 2013. The Czech army received the following variants: 72 IFV’s with the RCWS-30 turret, 11 command post vehicles, 8 reconnaissance vehicles with and 8 without radar, 4 ambulances and 4 engineer variants.
The Czech Pandur II 8×8 CZ differs from the original version in that a new breakwater controlled from inside the vehicle has been fitted, and the driver’s hatch is fitted for CDND-1 night vision apparatus. The armor is designed to protect against 14.5×114 ammunition (with RAFAEL add-on passive armour). SSAB ARMOX 500 armour steel is used for the bottom side of the hull which has an intermediate floor suspended from wall and ceiling mounts rather than floor mounted. The standard Pandur II has a flat bottom, but Pandur II CZ has its bottom shaped to the “/\” (reversed “V”) which some sources maintain reduces the effect of mine blast on passengers.
There are three robust cameras (left, right and rear) giving the ability to driver to reverse without leader’s help or observe around the vehicle. The driver has one monitor for this purpose. The cameras are from Orlaco company much like monitor in troop section. Czech Pandurs II 8×8 also include navigation, information, communication and identification system. Pandurs without RCWS-30 will be unarmed or equipped with Rafael Mini-Samson RCWS-12.7. Rafael RCWSs bought by Czech republic: 78x RCWS-30, 14 RCWS-30 (with no Spike-LR missiles), 93 Mini-Samson RCWS units that carry 12.7mm machine gun. Its Cummins ISLe T450 455HP diesel engine can be removed and replaced in 30 minutes.
