FALLS CHURCH, Va., 23 February 2005. General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems has completed negotiations with the Government of Portugal on a $482 million (euro 365 million) contract to produce 260 Pandur II eight-wheeled, all-wheel- drive (8x8) armored combat vehicles.
Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH, a General Dynamics company, of Vienna, Austria, will be the program manager and system integrator, with participation from other General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems elements in Europe and vehicle co-production in Portugal.
General Dynamics will produce 15 vehicle variants under this program, including an amphibious configuration for use by the Portuguese Navy. Deliveries will begin in Sept. 2006 and continue through Dec. 2009.
The Pandur II family of medium armored combat vehicles is composed of mission specific variants/configurations, each of which provide different functional capabilities. Design features of the amphibious vehicles are optimized for superior survivability and mobility, and rapid deployment and maintenance.
"We are very pleased to have completed these negotiations quickly and look forward to beginning vehicle production on this important program," said H. Michael Malzacher, president of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems. "The Pandur II family of combat vehicles comprises a cost-effective, versatile, high-performance transportation system that meets demanding force- protection requirements, and the Government of Portugal will be well-served by these vehicles for many years."
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 70,200 people worldwide and had 2004 revenue of $19.2 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. For more information, see www.generaldynamics.com.
