• Forum
• SITREP

• Military

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space
• Public Eye

Further Reading

Pandur

Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug AG (STEYR) of Austria, a privately owned shareholding company of which General Dynamics owns 25%, developed the Pandur family of combat vehicles. General Dynamics is the United States licensee. STEYR owns the full industrial and intellectual property rights. About 2,500 STEYR Pandur 6x6 wheeled armored vehicles are in service world wide, more than 700 in NATO countries. The vehicle was released for marketing in its present configuration in 1994. The same year the first contract with the Austrian Army was signed for 68 vehicles. In October 1996, the first export order was achieved for 70 Pandur 6x6 vehicles with the Kuwait National Guard, followed by an order of 54 Pandurs by the Armed Forces of Belgium. In 1998, after more than two years of evaluation by the U.S. Army, AV Technology was awarded a contact with options for up to 50 Pandur 6x6 armored ground mobility systems. Delivery of four Pandurs, produced in parallel with STEYR, is complete. An option for eight vehicles was executed in the 2nd Quarter of 2000.

The 6X6 Pandur is a six-wheeled, multi-functional vehicle capable of operating on road, off road, in hilly terrain, cross-country, night or day. It can carry up to 12 soldiers with equipment in the armored personnel carrier variant. The use of a unique Land System applique armor package, seat shock-mitigation attachments and armor enclose power pack, provide superior protection for the crew against mines and armor-piercing projectiles. Other design features include run-flat tires, steerable front axle sets, central tire inflation system and a thermally isolated exhaust system. Its inherent design, size and characteristics permit customization into more than 12 configurations. These include a 25mm reconnaissance variant, anti-tank guided missile carrier, 90-mm fire support vehicle, 81-mm mortar carrier, command and control, and ambulance variants. The 105mm HITFACT turret mounted on the 8X8 Pandur II armoured vehicle, manufactured by the Austrian company Steyr, is used by the Portuguese army in a troop transportation version. The turret represents a brand new concept in some principal subsystems (electrical control systems, new, special barrel steel, the latest generation of fire control systems and recoil brakes) and is the fruit of close on 50 years experience in the area of 105mm guns and follows the production of approximately 500 Centauro turrets. In tests conducted in December 2008, excellent results were achieved in all conditions, from stationary vehicle to stationary target to the more difficult situation of a moving vehicle shooting at a moving target. Spectacular scenes were also provided by the mobility demonstration, which included clearing a mud-filled trench and the steep slope of a dried-up gravelly riverbed, finished off with its return amidst sprays of muddy water. There to witness the tests was the National Armaments Director, a number of representatives from the Portuguese army and Defence Ministry, the Italian Military Attaché and representatives from the Italian Defence Ministry, not to mention an official American observer. The final day was dedicated to the press and local television channels, which were eager to find out all the technical details and the system's special features.