GDELS Awarded a Contract for 198 EAGLE IV 4x4 Vehicles for Germany
11 November 2008
General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) has entered a contract with the German Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung (BWB) for the delivery of 198 EAGLE IV protected command and function vehicles. In addition to the agreement of 16 July for the delivery of a first batch of 25 EAGLE IVs, this contract includes the delivery of a further 173 vehicles and the development of the logistic and service support organisation with a total value of €105,7 million (approx. $141 million).
This sales success in Germany represents the largest order ever awarded for the new EAGLE IV. The 198 now ordered EAGLE IV vehicles will be jointly manufactured in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland and at Kaiserslautern, Germany. Deliveries will commence in 2008 and will extend to 2010.
Within the framework of the 'GFF Klasse 2' programme - protected command and function vehicles - unprotected carrier vehicles of the Bundeswehr will be replaced by the EAGLE IV to enhance the safety of German soldiers wherever they may serve. Due to its high deployability, agility and tactical mobility, the EAGLE IV is suitable for the entire mission spectrum for this class of vehicles. The EAGLE IV can be used for various missions by applying modular add-on kits. Furthermore, the substantial payload capability - which is significant, despite the high level of crew protection - supports the growth potential required to fulfill future requirements. For self-protection, all vehicles shall be equipped with a remotely controlled weapon station of the KMW FLW 100/200 type.
In addition to its crew-protection and mobility advantages, the EAGLE IV also enjoys low operation and training costs. Lifecycle costs of the vehicle fleet will be further minimised by the high degree of logistic commonality among the EAGLE IV and the DURO IIIP tactical truck, which has already been successfully introduced in the German Bundeswehr as the RLS 'YAK'. The vehicles share many essential components, such as the engine, transmission, axles, wheel drives, differentials and brakes, helping to reduce costs. The German Bundeswehr will share the cost advantage of a common EAGLE IV and DURO IIIP fleet previously enjoyed by Denmark.
When asked to address the significance of this contract for General Dynamics European Land Systems Lutz Kampmann, vice president of wheeled vehicles, stated, "This order is a further important milestone for the international success of our EAGLE IV as well as for the continuous development of our relationship with Germany as an important key customer. It also proves the confidence of the German Bundeswehr in our products, particularly in the DURO IIIP vehicles that have been purchased since 2003, which have proven themselves - among other places - in peace missions in Afghanistan."
The in-house baseline development of the EAGLE IV was completed with the roll-out of the first prototype at the end of 2003. Just two years later, the first sales success was landed with 90 vehicles for the Danish Army. At the beginning of 2006, the BWB purchased two EAGLE IV demonstrator vehicles for intensive comparative tests. In these demanding tests the EAGLE IV proved its superior mobility, a high level of protection for the crew, a large usable volume and a high payload.
Following the important success of the EAGLE IV in Germany, GDELS hopes to get further orders from EU/NATO countries in the near future, since this multi-purpose vehicle fulfills the rising need for highly protected transport capacity for international peace missions.
