Austria to buy 32 BAE Beowulf ATVs

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, July 5 (UPI) -- BAE Systems has been awarded a contract to produce 32 BvS10 Beowulf military vehicles for Austria under a government-to-government agreement with Sweden, the company announced.

The amount of the contract was not disclosed.

The contract is for the armored personnel carrier variant of the BvS10, BAE said in a statement.

Deliveries are expected to be begin in the second half of 2017 and conclude in 2019.

The tracked vehicle is designed to operate in rugged terrain to deliver personnel or cargo in combat and disaster relief situations.

The BvS10 will also play a role in Austria's European Union Mountain Training Warfare Initiative, BAE said.

Austria will host schools, training and support services for the initiative, which was created to enhance military effectiveness in mountain terrain.

Building on BAE's legacy BV206 vehicles, the BvS10 features enhanced crew ergonomics, greater internal volume and advanced protection, BAE said.

Austria joins France, the Netherlands, Sweden and the U.K. in operating the BvS10.