WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- General Dynamics has landed contracts to upgrade the armored-vehicle fleets of Ireland and Czech Republic.
The U.S. defense contractor said it would provide 15 PIRANHA vehicles to the Irish military and Pandur II vehicles to the Czechs.
The $37 million PIRANAH contract went to a branch of G.D's European Land Combat Systems unit and calls for 15 armored cars that are used in Ireland's overseas peacekeeping missions.
Fitted out for exceptional protection against mines and anti-tank weapons, the PIRANAH comes equipped with either a 12.7-millimeter Kongsberg heavy machine-gun system or the Otomelara 30-millimeter weapon system.
The Czech order is worth $1 billion and with delivery of the nearly 200 vehicles scheduled between next year and 2012.
"The Pandur II family of amphibious combat vehicles comprises a cost-effective, versatile, high-performance transportation system that meets demanding force-protection requirements," stated Christian Fuchs, managing director of Steyr, the European G.D. unit that will be produced in the Czech Republic and in Austria.
The eight-wheel Pandur II is currently used by the United States, Kuwait and a handful of European armies. It can be fitted for a variety of missions and comes heavily armored with independent suspension, run-flat tires for quick getaways and a computer-based maintenance system. General Dynamics boasts that the vehicle's diesel engine can be replaced during a 30-minute pit stop.
Pandur can transport an infantry squad and is generally armed with a heavy machine-gun or a 30mm Mauser cannon.
