Mowag Piranha V Explained

Piranha V
Origin:Switzerland
Type:Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Is Vehicle:yes
Service:2015 – present[1]
Used By:Denmark
Monaco
Spain
Romania
Designer:Mowag Motor Car Factory, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland
Manufacturer:Mowag
Bucharest Mechanical Factory
Weight:30t
Length:8m (26feet)
Width:2.99m (09.81feet)
Height:2.34m (07.68feet)
Crew:3 (+ 8 passengers)
Armour:14.5mm AP resistant. Maximum Add-on (25mm AP resistant)
Primary Armament:1×RCWS (12.7 mm machine gun or 30 mm autocannon), or anti-tank missile launcher, or 120mm mortar
Secondary Armament:1×7.62 mm coaxial machine gun (on turret)
Engine:MTU 6V199 TE21 or Scania DC13
Engine Power:NaNlk=inNaNlk=in
Transmission:ZF 7HP902S or SAPA SW624
Drive:8×8
Fuel Capacity:450lk=inNaNlk=in
Pw Ratio:NaNkW/t
Suspension:Hydropneumatic 8×8 wheeled
Vehicle Range:550lk=inNaNlk=in[2]
Speed:100lk=inNaNlk=in

The Piranha V Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) is the fifth generation variant of the Mowag Piranha family of vehicles. It was designed by General Dynamics European Land Systems - Mowag GmbH.[3] The first prototype was completed in 2008. It was first introduced during the Eurosatory exhibition in 2010.[4]

Development

The Piranha V was developed by General Dynamics UK and Mowag. It was designed to meet the British Army requirements of the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) program.[5] In 2007, it was announced that three vehicles were participating in the program: the Boxer, the VBCI, and the Piranha V.[6]

In 2008, the Piranha V was announced as the provisional selection in the FRES program.[7] However, no production order was announced, and the contract was subsequently cancelled in December 2008.[8] [9] By the end of 2008, the first prototype was finished.[5] The vehicle was presented by GDELS at the Eurosatory exhibition in 2010, together with a new variant of the ASCOD IFV.[4] In 2016, it was successfully loaded into an Airbus A400M cargo aircraft during an evaluation exercise in Seville.[10]

A live firing test was conducted at Camp Rena in Norway, in 2019, with the presence of the Romanian procurement authority. The Piranha V, fitted with the Israeli UT30 MK 2 passed the series of static and dynamic shooting tests in harsh environmental conditions, exceeding the customer's requirements, as noted by GDELS.[11]

Design

Mobility

The Piranha V is available with a MTU 6V199 TE21 diesel engine producing 586hp.[12] Both Denmark[13] and Spain,[14] however, have opted for a different powerpack built by the Spanish company SAPA, consisting of a Scania Diesel engine with 480 kW coupled with the SW 624 automatic transmission, and an auxiliary power unit with 75 kW.[15]

Protection

Standard armour (STANAG 4569, Level 4/4b) offers all-round 14.5mm AP protection and 20mm-23mm AP on front. Can offer full protection for the crew if a 10 kg explosive AT mine explodes under the hull. Add-ons can offer all-round protection to 25mm AP rounds and level 5 STANAG 4569.[1]

Operational history

Denmark

At the end of 2015, Denmark announced the order of 308 vehicles. The first Piranhas were to arrive in 2018, with the last arriving in 2023.[16] The Piranha V was selected as the replacement of the old M113. It was selected over the CV90, the ASCOD, and the VBCI.[17]

The Danish Piranha V contract includes 6 different variants: infantry, command, pioneer, ambulance, repair and mortar. The first pre-production variant vehicles arrived in 2017, with the first production variants being officially handed over to the Armed Forces in March 2019.[18] [19] In 2020, the ambulance version was received. The vehicles were assigned to the 1st Brigade where they are to replace the Piranha III.[20]

In 2023, the Danish Ministry of Defence announced that it selected the Skyranger 30 as part of its planned ground air defense system. The Skyranger system is to be mounted on the Piranha V platform. The integration will be performed by the Danish company Terma A/S.[21]

Monaco

Monaco is the first operator of the Piranha V. Two vehicles were received in 2015.[1]

Romania

In 2017, Romania signed a 900 million euro contract with General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) for the purchase and production of 227 Piranha V armored personnel carriers in Romania.[22] The joint venture between GDELS and (UMB) also aims to provide the Piranha V to the export market in the area. Besides production, a military vehicle maintenance section will also operate at UMB.[23]

The first batch of 36 vehicles, was produced at GDELS-Mowag's facilities in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, 10 of which were assembled in Bucharest. The first batch included 30 vehicles in Infantry Fighting Vehicle configuration equipped with 30 mm cannons, and 6 in mobile command point configuration, and was assigned to the 26th Infantry Battalion "Neagoe Basarab", also known as the Red Scorpions, in October 2020.[24] [25] A second batch of 32 vehicles assembled at UMB, was received in November 2022. Another 26 Piranhas were received in different configurations, including mortar carriers, equipped with Spear MK2 120 mm mortars, ambulances, CBRN, and recovery vehicles.[26] The rest of the vehicles will be entirely produced in Romania.[23] On 10 February 2023, it was announced that Romania will purchase another 150 Piranha V for an estimated cost of 674 million US dollars.[27]

In May 2023, 25 Piranhas of the 26th Infantry Battalion participated in the Anakonda 23 exercise.[28] [29] The Romanian soldiers carried out a 1,000 kilometer march to the Polish training grounds in Nowa Dęba where they trained together with troops from Slovenia, Poland, and the United States.[28] [30]

Spain

Under the Vehículo de Combate sobre Ruedas (VCR) program, the Spanish Ministry of Defence selected a local team in 2015 to develop the future 8×8 armored infantry vehicle which is to replace the old BMR, VEC, and M113 vehicles in the Spanish Army endowment. The team, formed by Indra Sistemas, Sapa Placencia, and the joint venture General Dynamics European Land Systems-Santa Bárbara Sistemas based the vehicle on the Piranha V design.[31]

In 2018, the first 5 demonstrators were received.[14] The contract for the armored vehicle, known as the by the Spanish Army, was awarded in 2020 for 1.74 billion euros, 733 million of which was awarded to GDLS-SBS. It included 348 vehicles, maintenance and life cycle support, as well as the support for international commercialization. The contract is expected to grow to 1,000 vehicles.[32] The Dragón began trials in 2022, after passing the critical design review. Of the 348, 219 are to be in IFV configuration, 58 reconnaissance vehicles, 49 sappers combat vehicles, and 14 command post vehicles. The deliveries are scheduled to finish by 2027.[33]

The first batch of vehicles was delivered on 20 December 2022. The 7 vehicles were received during a ceremony attended by the Secretary of State for Defence, and the Army Chief of Staff. The vehicles are being produced by TESS Defence, an association between Santa Bárbara Sistemas, Indra Sistemas, Escribano Mechanical & Engineering, and Sapa Placencia.[34]

Operators

Current operators (orders / deliveries)

Denmark (309)
  • The Piranha V was selected over the CV90 Armadillo the PMMC G5 and the VBCI in 2015. The contract for the order of 309 Piranha V in 6 variants was signed in December 2015 for USD $600 million.[35]
  • The first Piranha V was delivered to DALO in 2018, and it entered service at the end of March 2019.[36]
    Monaco (2)
  • Piranha V vehicles are used by the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince.[37] [38]
    Spain (348 ordered, 650 planned)
  • In 2015, a program to replace the VEC-M1, the BMR-M1 and part of the M113 fleet was launched by the Spanish Army. The competitors were the Boxer, the Freccia, the Patria AMV, the Piranha V, the SEP and the VBCI.[39]
  • In September 2015, the competition was won by GDELS with the Piranha V.[40] In December 2019, the Spanish Government cancelled the program, and relaunched the competition.[41] In August 2020, the Piranha V of GDELS Santa Barbara Sistemas in collaboration with Indra Sistemas and Sapa Placencia won again the competition for a first batch of 348 vehicles for €1.74 billion.[42]
  • It is known as the Dragon VCR and the orders are split in 3 phases. There are confirmed orders for the phase 1 only:
    Romania (227)
  • In January 2018, Romania signed a framework agreement with GDELS for the purchase of 227 Piranha V. The value of the agreement reached €868 million. Six variants are planned in the contract, and an important part would be manufactured locally.[46] The framework agreement is structured in 3 phases: [47]
    1. 30 vehicles produced by GDELS Mowag in Switzerland (all delivered)
    1. 64 assembled in Romania under the direction of GDELS (all delivered)
    1. 133 to be manufactured by UMB in Romania (47 delivered, rest to be delivered by 2025)[48]

    Potential orders

    Romania (150)
  • In February 2023, the Defence Ministry of Romania requested the approval to the parliament to initiate the purchase of additional Piranha V for an estimated value of USD $674 million.[49]
    Spain (650 potential orders)

    Failed bids

    Bulgaria
  • In 2017, Bulgaria invited companies to submit offers for a future IFV and other combat support vehicles (reconnaissance, combat engineering, ambulance) based on a 8×8 armoured vehicles. Over time, several offers were made by various competitors (GTK Boxer, Mowag Piranha V, Nexter VBCI 2, Patria AMVXP, Freccia, Otokar Arma, FNSS PARS). The Boxer was eliminated with the VBCI in December 2017 because they did not fulfil the conditions of the program, while the Piranha V and the Patria AMVXP did.
  • After years of discussions and cancellations, an offer made by General Dynamics Land Systems for a much smaller and cheaper Stryker won the contract in September 2023, 183 vehicles for USD $1.37 billion.[50]
    Lithuania
  • In 2016, the GTK Boxer was selected over the Iveco SUPERAV, the PARS III, the Patria AMV, the Piranha V, the Stryker and the VBCI-2.[51]
    Slovakia
  • In April 2022, Slovakia submitted a request for information to General Dynamics regarding the Piranha V produced in Romania.[52] The contract failed as the Patria AMV was chosen instead.[53]
    United Arab Emirates (400)
  • In 2017, the UAE military ordered 400 Otokar Rabdan 8×8.[54] It was selected over the GTK Boxer, the Patria AMV, the Piranha V and the VBCI in a competition initially intended for 700 vehicles.[55] [56]
    Slovenia (106)
  • Up to 106 APC with a budget of €700 million are to be selected after the contract for the GTK Boxer was cancelled. The finalists of the competition are the Piranha V, the Freccia, the Rosomak L and the Patria AMVXP. [57] A visit of a Slovenian delegation took place in Romania at the production facility in 2024. On the 11th of July 2024 it was announced that the Patria AMVxp was the winner of the competition.[58]
    United Kingdom
  • The UK initially participated in the development of the GTK Boxer with Germany and the Netherlands. The collaboration started in 1999. In 2003, the UK decided to leave the development of that vehicle.[59] In 2004, the FRES programme was launched. In June 2007, 3 vehicles were pre-selected for the FRES UV programme, the GTK Boxer, the Piranha V and the VBCI.[60] The Piranha V was selected as preferred bidder in November 2007 and announced in May 2008.[61] [62] It wasn't followed by orders due to budget crunch, and as of December 2008, the absence of contract meant that the Piranha V wasn't the preferred bidder anymore.[63]
  • In 2014, a new programme, the FUV (Future Utility Programme) was launched, and the VBCI was considered again and tested by the UK. But the evaluation didn't lead to te selection of the vehicle. In 2018, the UK rejoined the Boxer programme through the MIV programme (Mechanised Infantry Vehicle).[64]

    See also

    Comparable vehicles

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: MOWAG Piranha V. military-today.com. 26 May 2023.
    2. Web site: Wheeled 8x8 armored combat vehicle - Switzerland. armyrecognition.com. 20 May 2023.
    3. http://www.gdels.com/products/wheeled_3.asp "Product Range - Wheeled Vehicles - Medium Wheeled Vehicles - Piranha 5"
    4. Web site: GDLS Europe Introduces New Infantry Fighting Vehicles. defense-update.com. 13 June 2010.
    5. Web site: PIRANHA V Armoured Wheeled Vehicle. army-technology.com. 2021-06-14.
    6. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/DraysonNewVehiclesWillHavevitalPartToPlayInTheArmyOfTheFuture.htm Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Drayson: New vehicles will have "vital part to play in the Army of the future"
    7. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/DesignSelectedForFutureArmouredVehicleForBritishArmyfres.htm Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Design selected for future armoured vehicle for British Army (FRES)
    8. Web site: General Dynamics' Piranha V makes FRES provisional selection. janes.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20090204061737/http://www.janes.com/news/defence/land/jdw/jdw080509_1_n.shtml. 4 February 2009. 9 May 2008. Tim Ripley.
    9. Web site: House of Commons Hansard Ministerial Statements for 11 Dec 2008 (pt 0001). parliament.uk. 4 August 2016.
    10. Web site: Wheeled Armored Vehicle PIRANHA 5 Loaded in Airbus A400M. gdels.com. 2016-05-25.
    11. Web site: GDELS conducts shooting trials with PIRANHA 5 for Romanian Army. army-technology.com. 10 April 2019.
    12. Web site: Joint venture agreement between Uzina Mecanică București - General Dynamics, the first step to relaunch the defence industry. 16 March 2022. 27 May 2023. ROMARM.
    13. Web site: Scania skal levere motorer til Forsvarets nye pansrede mandskabsvogne. da. 18 November 2016. mynewsdesk.com.
    14. Web site: Hoyos (8x8): "La recepción de los cinco demostradores se extenderá hasta noviembre de 2018" (1) - Noticias Infodefensa España. 12 September 2017.
    15. Web site: SAPA Transmission powers Spanish Piranha. Janes. https://web.archive.org/web/20171015084901/http://www.janes.com/article/74880/sapa-transmission-powers-spanish-piranha. 15 October 2017. 13 October 2017.
    16. Web site: 11 December 2015 . 309 New Armored Vehicles . https://web.archive.org/web/20160116230404/http://www2.forsvaret.dk/nyheder/overige_nyheder/Pages/309nyepansredemandskabsvogne.aspx . 16 January 2016 . . Danish.
    17. Web site: Denmark to buy hundreds of Swiss Piranha 5 APCs to replace aeging M-113s. defense-update.com. 2 May 2015. Tamir Eshel.
    18. Web site: Piranha 5 and Eagle 5 handed over to the armed forces in Denmark. esut.de. 4 April 2019.
    19. Web site: Tomkins . Richard . 19 May 2017 . First Piranhas delivered to Danish military . https://archive.today/20170521210024/http://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2017/05/19/First-Piranhas-delivered-to-Danish-military/6061495190787/ . 21 May 2017 . 21 May 2017 . United Press International.
    20. Web site: Ambulance version of Piranha V enters service with Danish Army. Flavia Camargos Pereira. shephardmedia.com. 15 July 2020. subscription.
    21. Web site: Danish Army Selects Skyranger 30 for Planned Mobile Air Defense. Armada International. 23 May 2023. Stephen W. Miller.
    22. Web site: 2018-01-15 . Romania signs €900mn contract for Piranha armoured vehicles . 2022-10-29 . www.intellinews.com . en.
    23. Web site: Blindatele Piranha 5 vor fi produse complet la Uzina Mecanică București, inclusiv pentru export. HotNews. 15 March 2022. ro.
    24. Web site: Primele 36 de transportoare blindate PIRANHA V au fost receptionate de Armata. HotNews. 5 October 2020. 5 Oct 2020. ro.
    25. Web site: Armata a testat primele blindate Piranha 5 în poligonul de la Cincu și a executat trageri cu tunul de 30 mm. HotNews. 6 November 2020. ro.
    26. Web site: Noile variante de Piranha V pentru România (Video). Piranha inclusiv cu mortier Cardom Spear de 120 mm urmează să intre în dotarea Armatei. DefenseRomania. 5 December 2022.
    27. Web site: România va cumpăra alte 150 de blindate Piranha pentru armata română. ro. Digi24. 10 February 2023.
    28. Web site: TAB-77 și Zimbrii care se stricau în misiune sunt istorie. Demonstrație de forță Piranha 5 românești: Marș de 1.000 km a blindatelor de luptă. ro. Darius Mureșan. DefenseRomania. 6 May 2023.
    29. Web site: Peste 400 de militari români vor participa la Anakonda 23, exercițiu multinațional în Polonia. ro. umbrela-strategica.ro. 24 April 2023.
    30. Web site: 'Thunderbolts' roll out the thunder at Anakonda 23. Pfc. Jason Klaer. army.mil. 23 May 2023.
    31. Web site: Spain selects Piranha 5 as new 8×8 armoured infantry vehicle. Dylan Malyasov. defence-blog.com. 28 September 2015.
    32. Web site: General Dynamics European Land Systems awarded €733 million (USD $870 million) of a €1.74 billion contract for 348 Spanish 8x8 combat vehicles. prnewswire.com. 25 August 2020.
    33. Web site: Spain's Dragon 8×8 Combat Vehicles to Begin Trials. The Defense Post. Ronald Watkins. 12 August 2022.
    34. Web site: First Dragón 8×8 Delivered to Spanish Army. European Security & Defence. 2 January 2023.
    35. Web site: Denmark Signs $600M Contract for Piranha 5 Armored Vehicles . 2024-07-03 . DefenceTalk . en-US.
    36. Web site: Valpolini . Paolo . 2019-04-03 . Danish Army receives first PIRANHA 5 and EAGLE 5 wheeled armoured vehicles . 2024-07-03 . EDR Magazine . en-GB.
    37. Web site: montecarlo-times . 2021-11-14 . PRINCE’S COMPANY OF CARABINIERS . 2024-07-03 . MonteCarlo Times . it-IT.
    38. Book: Giletta, Jacques . Les Gardes Personnelles des Princes de Monaco . Taurus Editions . 2005 . 2 912976-04-9 . 1st.
    39. Web site: Villarejo . Esteban . 2015-08-22 . GD Favored To Win Spanish Armored Vehicle Contract . 2023-10-01 . Defense News . en.
    40. https://defence-blog.com/spain-selects-piranha-5-as-new-8x8-armoured-infantry-vehicle/
    41. Web site: admin . 2019-12-29 . Spanish Government Cancels â'¬2.1 Billion Piranha 5 Contract . 2023-10-01 . MilitaryLeak . en-US.
    42. Web site: Editorial . Defense Brief . 2020-08-25 . Spain hands out $2.06 billion contract for Dragon VCR 8x8 vehicles . 2023-10-01 . Defense Brief . en-US.
    43. Web site: Editorial . Defense Brief . 2021-12-19 . Spain's 8x8 Dragon VCR combat vehicle program enters construction phase . 2023-01-24 . Defense Brief . en-US.
    44. Web site: 8x8, the wait is over - Spanish army . 2023-01-24 . ejercito.defensa.gob.es.
    45. Web site: ESD . 2023-01-26 . Details on 8x8 Dragón . 2024-07-03 . euro-sd.com . en-US.
    46. Web site: 2022-05-30 . Romania moves towards full domestic production of Piranha V . 2024-07-03 . Default . en.
    47. Web site: 2024-05-24 . BSDA 2024: Romanian Piranha 5 programme progresses . 2024-07-03 . Default . en.
    48. Web site: General Dynamics delivered 47 Piranha 5 transporters to MapN, out of the 133 provided for in the second phase of the contract. bursa.ro. 30 May 2024.
    49. Web site: 2023-02-13 . Romanian Ministry of Defense to buy 150 more Piranha 5 armored personnel carriers . 2024-07-03 . Romania Insider . en.
    50. Web site: Adamowski . Jaroslaw . 2023-09-25 . Bulgarian government approves $1.37 billion Stryker order . 2023-10-01 . Defense News . en.
    51. Web site: Barreira . Victor M. S. . 2016-01-21 . Lithuania selects German GTK Boxer AFV . 2024-06-26 . Defence IQ . en.
    52. Web site: 22 July 2022 . Bulgaria - interesată de blindate Piranha V produse în România. După ce a ratat contractul Slovaciei, România mai are o șansă la sud de Dunăre . DefenseRomania . ro.
    53. Web site: 31 August 2022 . Defensenews.com: Slovakia, Finland ink production deal for 76 Patria combat vehicles, 31.8.2022 . 2022-09-07.
    54. https://defence-blog.com/uae-confirms-order-rabdan-new-8x8-armoured-vehicles-with-russian-produced-combat-turret/
    55. Web site: 2012-12-26 . Commande militaire de blindés par l'armée des Emirats Arabes Unis : Nexter Systems de nouveau dans la course . 2024-06-26 . Challenges . fr.
    56. Web site: 2012-05-15 . UAE: Patria, BTR, VBCI and tender for armored vehicles . 2024-06-26 . Tactical Report . en.
    57. Web site: The Slovenia Times . 2023-11-24 . sloveniatimes.com.
    58. Web site: The Slovenia Times . 2024-08-14 . sloveniatimes.com.
    59. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030717/wmstext/30717m05.htm#30717m05.html_spmin5 Written Answers for 17 July 2003
    60. Web site: 8 June 2007 . Drayson: New vehicles will have "vital part to play in the Army of the future" . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070711050356/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/DraysonNewVehiclesWillHavevitalPartToPlayInTheArmyOfTheFuture.htm . 11 July 2007 . mod.uk.
    61. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/DraysonNewVehiclesWillHavevitalPartToPlayInTheArmyOfTheFuture.htm Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Drayson: New vehicles will have "vital part to play in the Army of the future"
    62. Web site: 8 May 2008 . Design selected for future armoured vehicle for British Army (FRES) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080512164814/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/DesignSelectedForFutureArmouredVehicleForBritishArmyfres.htm . 12 May 2008 . mod.uk.
    63. Web site: House of Commons Hansard Ministerial Statements for 11 Dec 2008 (pt 0001) . 4 August 2016 . parliament.uk.
    64. Ministry of Defence and Guto Bebb . British Army re-joins Boxer programme in step towards new armoured vehicles . UK Government . 31 March 2018 . 1 April 2018.

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