General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) has expanded its PIRANHA wheeled armored vehicle family by a new variant: The PIRANHA Heavy Mission Carrier “HMC”. The PIRANHA HMC marks with its Gross Vehicle Weight of up to 40 tons and a payload of 17 metric tons the top-end of the most successful Western wheeled armored vehicle family. PIRANHA HMC features advanced driveline und suspension technologies like a 10×10 all-wheel-drive-power-driveline and a unique multi-link suspension system (MLS) with 1st / 2nd and 4th / 5th axle steering. These features allow minimum axle-loads to comply with European road regulations, superior cross-country mobility and trench crossing capabilities with a reduced turning cycle of less than 18 meters.
“This unique vehicle platform is a result of our continuous strive towards innovative automotive and driveline technologies combined with over 40 years of excellence and experience as a world-class vehicle OEM”, says Giuseppe Chillari, GDELS Vice President Wheeled Vehicles & Managing Director GDELS-Mowag.
“The PIRANHA HMC is a direct response to our global customer base`s evolving payload and space claim requirements for versatile and multi-purpose missions including direct and indirect fires, air-defense and tactical bridging capabilities”, says Dr. Thomas Kauffmann, GDELS Vice President for Global Sales & Services.
With the 10×10 PIRANHA Heavy Mission Carrier (HMC), General Dynamics European Land Systems is responding to the growing need for highly maneuverable wheeled armored vehicle platforms for increasingly demanding mission profiles while accommodating with essential Military Mobility requirements for NATO and international customers. With more than 12,000 vehicles in over 20 user nations, the PIRANHA family of vehicles is the most successful wheeled armored vehicle in the Western world. In addition to the widespread 8×8, there are 4×4, 6×6 and 10×10 versions as well as amphibious variants in use.
The Mowag Piranha is a family of armoured fighting vehicles designed by the Swiss company Mowag (since 2010 General Dynamics European Land Systems – Mowag GmbH). Five generations of vehicles have been produced, manufactured by Mowag or under licence by other companies such as the LAV, and variants are in service with military forces throughout the world. With more than 11,000 vehicles fielded worldwide, the development of the PIRANHA family continues. The experience gained from over 40 years of operations in more than 20 countries is reflected in its latest designs. The vehicles offer a full range of standout features, such as custom built driveline, modular protection, unrivalled payload to gross vehicle weight ratio, almost unlimited range of weapon stations.
