Eurosatory 2014: GDELS Presents New Tactical Vehicles

General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) presents the latest member of the successful PIRANHA vehicle family, the new PIRANHA 3; the latest product developments of the ASCOD tracked vehicle, an up to 35t variant with rubber tracks; and two new High Mobility Light Tactical Vehicles in the weight class less than 5t, transportable inside medium transport helicopters, the ATTV and QUAD; plus the new Quad Bike Bridge (QBB) in Hall 5 - Stand No. E850 at Eurosatory 2014..

GDELS presents, for the first time, the latest member of the successful PIRANHA vehicle family, the new PIRANHA 3, developed in response to customer requirements for increased levels of protection, off road mobility and inherent growth for the future. With a GVW up to 27t, the new PIRANHA 3 is equipped with a Kongsberg 12.7mm PROTECTOR Weapon Station and a completely modular protection system that has been designed with the flexibility to meet latest protection system requirements and future protection needs. The Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) configuration can carry up to nine soldiers plus driver, gunner and commander, and can be fitted with either a conventional or a hydro-pneumatic suspension system to balance performance, comfort, maintainability and cost as needed. The top speed has been increased to 110km/h with a range of more than 1,000km to have greater autonomy. In addition to the large internal volume and ten percent payload growth up to 10 tons, the new PIRANHA 3 provides open architectures, reserve electrical power to meet future systems and personal equipment needs and spare cooling capacity with its modular HVAC/NBC System.

Furthermore, and again for the first time, GDELS presents the newest member of the ASCOD family of vehicles, a customisable version of up to 35t with rubber tracks. This vehicle offers an affordable solution benefit by being part of the Common Base Platform approach for all roles and maximum protection under NATO standards together with an innovate mine protection solution certified by independent entities. The new main features include increased protection capabilities, high mobility on and off-road, enhanced ergonomics and improved comfort. The version displayed, capable to carrying seven passengers plus commander, gunner and driver, is equipped with a LEMUR 12.7mm from BAE Systems. The ASCOD is in service with the Spanish and Austrian Army and the latest configurations have been awarded by the UK MoD for the Specialist Vehicle (SV) programme and are in competition in Denmark.

GDELS' newest member of the ASCOD family. For more information, read MILITARY TECHNOLOGY #6/14, available at Eurosatory 2014. (Photo: GDELS)

GDELS' newest member of the ASCOD family. For more information, read MILITARY TECHNOLOGY #6/14, available at Eurosatory 2014. (Photo: GDELS)

The PIRANHA 5 presented at EUROSATORY is equipped with a Rafael 30mm Remote Weapon Station with an integrated EUROSPIKE missile launcher. The PIRANHA 5 can carry up to nine soldiers plus driver, and commander, provides significant payload capacity for additional material and the highest levels of survivability against conventional and asymmetric threats while having the capacity to fill all battlefield roles such as APC, Electronic Warfare, Ambulance, Reconnaissance, Command, Mortar and even Direct Fire with turrets up to 120 mm caliber. The PIRANHA 5 can be delivered in either high or low roof configurations with open architectures, over 15 tons payload and 120 kW of electric power. This provides growth potential to secure a long service life for the vehicle as new technologies emerge and need to be integrated into the vehicle.

Building on the mobility, protection and payload of the class leading EAGLE, GDELS presents the versatility of the family of vehicles concept with the display of different configurations of the EAGLE 4x4 and EAGLE 6x6. The EAGLE 4x4 is displayed in a command vehicle configuration (4 seats) with a Rafael´s SAMSON Dual Remote Weapon Station and TROPHY LV systems. The EAGLE 6x6 is displayed in the dual configuration of Ambulance (stretcher plus 1 seat, medical) and APC (four troops, driver and commander).

GDELS, in partnership with the Dutch companies, widens its wheeled vehicles product portfolio by adding Light Tactical Vehicles in a weight class less than 5 tons. The new Super Light Tactical Vehicles (SLTV) ATTV and QUAD will set up a new family of vehicles, internally transportable in tactical helicopters, enough modular and versatile to span the full military mission spectrum from daily routine tasks to Special Forces actions (The Special Forces variants are on display at EUROSATORY). Based on the geometry of Rally Raid vehicles, SLTV deliver utmost levels of all-terrain agility and velocity, unmatched payload, and rugged reliability. The four-wheeled Steered Diesel QUAD is shown on the Quad Bike Bridge (QBB), a Super Light Tactical Bridge and new member of the bridge family of General Dynamics European Land Systems. The QBB provides tactical bridging capability for quad bikes for unprepared gaps up to 2. m and has already proven its performance and reliability in theatre.

GDELS' ATTV light tactical vehicle (Photo: GDELS)

GDELS' QUAD (Photo: GDELS)

The best protection in today’s combat operations is mobility and flexibility. Knowing this, GDELS has developed the Rapidly Emplaced Bridge (REB). REB provides tactical bridging capability for MLC50 wheeled and tracked vehicles for unprepared gaps up to 13m and has proven its superior performance and reliability in theatre already. The REBS mounted on Mercedes Benz newest AROCS truck is on display at the outdoor booth of Mercedes-Benz at B310.