Denmark orders hundreds of Piranha 5 armored vehicles

MADRID, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- General Dynamics European Land Systems is to deliver 309 Piranha 5 armored vehicles and vehicle sustainment services to Denmark.

The contract signed with the Danish Defense Acquisition and Logistic Organization covers six Piranha variants: infantry vehicles, command vehicles, ambulances, engineering Piranhas, and mortar and repair vehicles.

The contract's value is about $600 million. Deliveries will begin in 2018 and continue through 2023.

GDELS said the contract was signed by its Swiss subsidiary GDELS-Mowag.

"General Dynamics European Land Systems is very proud to have received this contract," said GDELS President Alfonso Ramonet. "It underlines the confidence and satisfaction of our Danish customer with our PIRANHA 5 platform, especially with the very high protection against ballistic threats, mines and improvised explosive devices and the excellent mobility both on- and off-road."

The Piranha is a wheeled armored vehicle and will replace Denmark's M113 armored personnel carriers.

"It is important that we invest in the Danish Defense," said Danish Defense Minister Peter Christensen. "Piranha 5 is better protected than the ageing, armored personnel carriers available to the army today, so with this purchase we are enhancing the army's ability to carry out its future tasks."