160 PIRANHA I 6x6 Command Vehicles for the Swiss Army
12 January 2007
On 21 December the Kreuzlingen based technology company MOWAG GmbH received an order from armasuisse for the re-role of 160 PIRANHA I 6x6 Panzerjäger (Tank Hunter) vehicles to protected command vehicles. These new command vehicles will enable command and control under the most difficult conditions and will be integrated in the Swiss army's new Communication and Battle Management System (FIS HE). As system integrator, MOWAG will be responsible for the conversion of the vehicles as well as for the logistic material. Delivery to the Swiss Army will take place between 2008 and 2010.
The success of military missions depends mostly on an effective Command, Control and Intelligence (C2I) potential. To work under difficult combat conditions, military commanders and their staff need protected vehicles with a high level of on- and off-road mobility. The re-role of the PIRANHA I 6x6 Panzerjäger fulfills these requirements as a cost-effective solution.
The re-role program includes adjustments for the integration of information and communication systems and the inclusion of a remotely controlled Kongsberg weapon station for self defence. Due to the up-to-date day and night vision equipment the new command vehicles are also perfectly suitable for observation and reconnaissance missions, which are an essential part of effective battle management.
To assure the connectivity with the new Communication and Battle Management System (FIS HE), the re-role concept already includes preparing measures for the integration of the future information and communication devices of FIS HE.
The prototype for the new command vehicle was developed by MOWAG GmbH in Kreuzlingen in close partnership with armasuisse and was delivered in the summer of 2005. Subsequent technical testing and troop trials were successful, and the command vehicle was consequently declared as ready for procurement in the spring of 2006 .
More than 300 PIRANHA I 6x6 Panzerjäger have been in service with the Swiss army since the beginning of the 90's. 40 of these vehicles are already in a re-role program for protected ambulance vehicles. The delivery of these ambulance vehicles began toward the end of 2006. Due to the excellent condition of the PIRANHA I 6x6 vehicles, they can be used for another 25 years following the conversion.
