The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) has received the first Eagle 6×6 Medium Protected Medical Vehicle variant from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS).
The handover occurred on 4 July at the medical training regiment's base in Feldkirchen, Lower Bavaria, during the ILÜ San 2025 medical exercise.
In April 2020, the German procurement agency BAAINBw ordered 80 “highly-protected” Eagle 6×6 vehicles for the German Army’s ambulance corps.
The $159m deal was awarded to GDEL following a competitive tender process under the medium protected ambulance vehicle programme.
The programme intends to “close the gap between the user´s light and heavy ambulance vehicle fleet”.
Bundeswehr Medical Service Headquarters lieutenant colonel Klaus Krickl said that "the new vehicle will supplement the light and heavy armoured medical vehicles Eagle IV BATBeweglicher Arzttrupp and MRAV Boxer”.
Designed to accommodate a crew of four, with an option for an emergency physician, the vehicle is built to provide top-tier medical services.
The vehicle features a flexible stretcher system and advanced medical equipment to safely transport one or two patients.
These vehicles are designed for resilience on modern battlefields, featuring protection for both the driver's cab and patient compartment.
Powered by a 229kW diesel engine and equipped with a De Dion suspension system and third-axle steering, the vehicle aims to redefine performance standards in its class.
GDELS Germany managing director and GDELS Global Sales vice president Dr Thomas Kauffmann said: “We would like to thank our German customers for the continued trust they place in us and are delighted that we can hand over the most modern ambulance vehicle in the world to the German Armed Forces.”
The Eagle will primarily serve in mobile initial medical treatment roles and operate as part of a qualified medical evacuation chain, Bundeswehr said at the time of announcing the order.
The vehicles were originally scheduled for delivery from 2021 and run up to 2024 but were delayed.
