Design of new armored vehicle in the works

DUSSELDORF, Germany, May 27 (UPI) -- German and Polish companies are to develop a new amphibious 6x6 armed vehicle for the Polish military under a cooperative agreement announced on Wednesday.

The agreement is between Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH, or RMMV, and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa SA and its subsidiary, Obrum sp. z o.o.

"Signing this contract with RMMV makes us an equal partner of a globally leading defense technology enterprise," said PGZ Chairman Wojciech Dabrowski. " Propelled by the success of the Rosomak armored transport vehicle, we launched this ambitious project, which will result in a new wheeled armored vehicle."

The vehicle will be designed and built to the requirements of the Polish Army's LOTR, or light armored reconnaissance vehicle, procurement program to replace Soviet-era BRDM-2 vehicles still in service with the Polish Army.

Rheinmetall said that in addition to jointly developing the vehicle, a joint venture to market the new vehicle internationally is being considered.

"We see this development contract as an important first step in a highly promising cross-border strategic alliance in the field of military wheeled vehicles," said Pietro Borgo, managing director of RMMV and member of the executive board of Rheinmetall Defence. "In forging this alliance, we're also acknowledging the need for intensive defense cooperation in Europe."