Piranha IV | |
---|---|
Type | Armoured fighting vehicle |
Place of origin | Switzerland |
Service history | |
In service | From 2024 |
Used by | Swiss Armed Forces |
Production history | |
Designed | Prototype revealed in 2001 |
Manufacturer | GDELS-Mowag GmbH |
Produced | Serial production from 2021 |
No. built | 132 ordered (May 2023) |
Specifications | |
Mass | GVM 25 t (55,000 lb) (15t kerb weight + 10 t payload) [1] |
Length | 7.24 m (285 in) |
Width | 2.80 m (110 in) |
Height | 2.20 m (87 in) for the base variant |
Crew | 3 (+ 6 or 7 passengers) |
Engine | MTU 6V 199TE20 544 hp (400 kW) |
Power/weight | 21.76 hp/t (16 kW/t) |
Transmission | ZF Ecomat 7HP 902 gearbox, (7 gears front + 1 reverse) [2] |
Suspension | Adjustable height, semi-active, hydro-pneumatic |
Operational range | 750 km (470 mi) |
Maximum speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) |
The Piranha IV is the fourth generation of the Piranha family of armoured vehicles by MOWAG GmbH. Its development started in the 2000s as a fully private venture. A first prototype was unveiled in 2001, and a second in 2004. [3] This new version offered an increased volume inside the cabin, and a higher level of protection.
As the Piranha IV was being developed, the ownership of MOWAG changed. It was acquired by General Dynamics in 2004 to become part of General Dynamics European Land Systems. [4]
Following the previous version of the Piranha (Piranha III) and its derivatives (LAV III, Stryker), a need for a larger and better protected vehicle arose from the international weapons market.
The solution offered by Mowag was a 8×8 with an internal volume of 12 m3 (420 cu ft) (compared to the 11 m3 of the Piranha IIIC). Vehicle weight was 25 t (25 long tons; 28 short tons) (18.5 t for the Piranha IIIC). Despite this weight increase, the mobility of the vehicle was improved thanks to a new suspension design and a more powerful engine. [5]
This new generation of the Piranha family triggered the interest of foreign manufacturers. A licence for its production was acquired by Alvis Vickers (which became BAE Systems Platforms & Services) with the intention to manufacture the Piranha IV in the UK and in South Africa. [6] Another licence was acquired by Komatsu which was looking for a 8x8 platform for the "Future Wheeled Combat Vehicle" (Shorai Sorin Sento Sharyo) of the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force. In the end, neither company manufactured the Piranha IV; the Japanese army selected the Type 16 for the role, and there was never a proper interest by the UK.[ citation needed ]
In 2007, the UK launched the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) competition for a heavy multi-role armoured vehicle after cancelling participation in the Boxer collaboration. The British Armed Forces were looking for a much higher protection level than was possible with the Piranha IV. GDELS Mowag therefore presented a new generation of the Piranha family in 2007, the "Piranha Evolution". [7] It was selected for FRES, along with the Boxer and the VBCI for FRES Utility Variant (UV) trials and the Piranha V with General Dynamics UK was chosen as the preferred bidder to develop the Piranha into a vehicle to meet British requirements but the UV requirement was dropped due to budget cuts and the decision reversed. [8] Despite losing the program, GDELS-Mowag developed this variant further into the 33-tonne Piranha V. GDELS-Mowag is able to offer 8×8 armoured vehicles in several weight categories including competing in the heavy category against the Boxer, the VBCI, the Patria AMV, and the Freccia IFV. This enabled the sale of the Piranha V to Denmark, Spain, Romania and Monaco.[ citation needed ]
One of the main differences with the former Piranha vehicles is the protection level.
This weapon system was developed for the Swiss Armed Forces, by GDELS Mowag and RUAG. Some of the main elements of its design are:
The Swiss Army expressed the need for a more mobile heavy mortar system, and evaluated a need for 4 batteries to fulfil its mission. The need for a heavy mortar system arose after the Swiss Government decided to stop using the, "lm fort 12 cm 59/86" (fortress twin-mine launcher 12cm) and the 15,5 cm Festungskanone 93 (an artillery gun 155mm Caliber L/52). [10]
This sapper vehicle was developed for the Swiss Armed Forces, by GDELS Mowag and various subcontractors for the tools.
Some of the main elements of its design are:
As part of the Armament Program 2021, this vehicle was designed to replace the fleet of Minenräumpanzer – M113 63/00 , a demining armoured vehicle. In the Swiss Army, the M113 63/00 is not the only sapper vehicle in service. Since 2008, the Kodiak (Leopard 2) was introduced, its mission being to support a heavy assault to breach minefields, trenches, and ditches.
The Swiss Army needed therefore a Sapper System complementary to the Kodiak. Moreover, the urbanisation of Switzerland having increased implied that some additional capabilities were needed on top of the demining mission and it would have to be modular to exploit the investment to the fullest.
Project Artillerie Wirkplattform und Wirkmittel 2026 [15] was a Swiss Army project for a successor to its M109 Kawest tracked self-propelled howitzers. In 2022, two systems were shortlisted. The first was the BAE Systems Hägglunds Archer Artillery System to use the RMMV HX2 8×8 chassis (the integration on a truck is in development), the second was the German Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 (RCH 155) on either the Boxer or Piranha IV platform. The Boxer was already developed, and in trials at the time but the Piranha IV would have to be integrated with the gun system. To that end GDELS Mowag and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann started to collaborate on a variant of the RCH-155. In May 2023, the first models of the prototype in development were revealed; the gun system would be installed on a Piranha IV 10×10 platform. This would provide the crew with more space compared to the Boxer based variant; this meant the whole artillery crew could be within the vehicle rather than operate some parts of the system remotely.
The vehicle takes the chassis developed for the RCH-155 mounted variant, and can be fitted for various missions. GDELS announced this variant in April 2024. It is designed for a 17 tons payload, and a total weight of up to 40 tons. The axles 1, 2, 4 and 5 are steered. The turning circle is lower than 18 meters. [16]
Successful bids
Ongoing evaluation
Failed bids
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