The Swiss Army Procures 220 DURO IIIP, 12 DURO IIIP and 12 PIRANHA IIIC for NBC Defence from General Dynamics
19 December 2008
On 17 December, MOWAG – a company of General Dynamics European Land Systems – received an order from Armasuisse for the delivery of 220 DURO IIIP armoured personnel carriers (GMTF – Geschütztes Mannschaftstransportfahrzeug) and 12 DURO IIIP NBC laboratory vehicles. In addition, the PIRANHA IIIC, many variants of which are successfully used all over the world, was selected as a basis for 12 NBC reconnaissance vehicles that will also be purchased. The three projects, which were approved in the 2008 Swiss armament procurement programme, comprise an order volume of approx. CHF260 million (€167 million) for MOWAG. The three types of vehicles will be delivered to the Swiss Army between 2010 and 2012.
GMTF protects the infantry
The Swiss Army needs a vehicle that provides troop protection, mobility and controllability for both military and non-military applications. The GMTF is a highly protected and highly mobile wheeled vehicle that can transport up to 11 soldiers; it is based on the mission-proven DURO IIIP 6x6 multipurpose vehicle. The GMTF supplements the PIRANHA II 8x8 Radschützenpanzer 93 and the BAE Hägglunds Schützenpanzer 2000 which are already in use with the Swiss Army.
Modern vehicles for NBC defence
The 12 new NBC laboratory vehicles being acquired are also based on the DURO IIIP. They enable the identification of radioactive materials, biological and chemical warfare agents, and toxic industrial chemicals. In addition to their defence applications, the vehicles can also be used to support civilian authorities in disaster relief and anti-terrorism assignments. MOWAG will supply the armoured carrier vehicles to Armasuisse, while the laboratory equipment will be integrated by Rheinmetall Landsysteme of Kassel. In addition, the 12 new PIRANHA IIIC 8x8 NBC reconnaissance vehicles will be procured for real-time detection of radioactive, biological or chemical agents. Thales Suisse (SA) of Zurich has overall responsibility for this project, with MOWAG supplying the PIRANHA IIIC 8x8 vehicles that are prepared for the installation of the NBC equipment.
Further intensification of partnership
When asked to comment on the importance of these three orders for MOWAG, Lutz Kampmann, vice president of wheeled vehicles for General Dynamics European Land Systems, said, “These three orders represent an extremely important milestone in our strategic partnership with Armasuisse and the Swiss army.”
