General Dynamics European Land Systems – Steyr (GDELS – Steyr) is presenting a new variant of the PANDUR 6×6 EVO wheeled armoured vehicle at the AIRPOWER24 airshow in Zeltweg, Styria on September 6th and 7th. The PANDUR EVO with SKYRANGER 30 is another proof of the high modularity and outstanding multi-role capability of the PANDUR 6×6 concept. The PANDUR EVO has been in use with the Austrian Armed Forces as a personnel carrier since 2018. In February 2024, a further 225 vehicles in twelve different mission variants were commissioned. In addition to the SHORAD (Short Range Air Defense) system presented in Zeltweg, these include the turreted mortar system recently shown at Eurosatory in Paris, as well as vehicles for MEDEVAC, command & control, anti-tank, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and engineering roles.
In the new mobile air defense variant, the PANDUR is equipped with an unmanned SKYRANGER 30 turret. Based on the proven PANDUR platform with 455HP engine, the system is armed with a 30mm x 173 revolver cannon capable of firing air burst ammunition and with launchers for two Mistral guided missiles. A radar and an electro-optical sensor package with TV and infrared cameras and laser rangefinder are integrated for surveillance and tracking. The two control consoles for the weapon system and the fire control computers are housed inside the vehicle. The PANDUR SHORAD is fully equal to the other family variants in terms of mobility. It is therefore particularly suited for convoy protection of infantry forces against manned and unmanned threats from the air and contributes substantially to the Austrian Army’s ‘defend-the-defender’ concept.
The Pandur is an APC developed and produced by the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge (SSF). It was developed during the 1980s as a private venture, based on the Pegaso BMR-600 design. In 2003, General Dynamics took over Steyr-Daimler-Puch which is now part of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GD ELS), which is also the parent company of MOWAG, Santa Brbara Sistemas and GDELS Germany. The Pandur I is no longer in production and has been replaced by the improved Pandur II, which is available in 6×6 and 8×8 versions. The significantly modernized version of the PANDUR MTPzUN, the PANDUR Evo, offers an unmatched compact vehicle design with a crew of 11 soldiers, superior mobility, and a significantly increased level of protection against mines and IED threats. On 22 December 2016, the Austrian Ministry of Defence ordered 34 Pandur 6×6 EVO vehicles for 105 million Euro from GDELS Steyr.
As the largest airshow in Europe and the largest event for the Austrian Armed Forces this year, AIRPOWER offers the right setting for such presentation. The organisers expect around 300,000 visitors and 200 civil and military aircraft from 20 countries. In addition to dynamic displays in the air, the programme includes demonstrations of the Army’s land capabilities and an international technology and business exhibition. In 2024, specifically on 6th and 7th September 2024, the Austrian Armed Forces, together with its partners the Province of Styria and Red Bull, will host AIRPOWER24 at Hinterstoisser Air Base in Zeltweg. AIRPOWER24 will have a performance show on the ground, as well as demonstrations by the Austrian Air Force and international military aerobatic squadrons and participants from civil aviation.
