FALLS CHURCH, Va., 27 Jan. 2006. The government of the Czech Republic has selected a unit of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems -- Vienna-based Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH -- to supply the Czech army with 199 new eight-wheeled Pandur II armored personnel carriers between 2007 and 2012.
The contract, which includes an option for 35 additional vehicles, has a potential value of approximately $1 billion. A final contract is expected to be completed by April 2006.
The Pandur II family is composed of mission-specific variants that are optimized for superior survivability and mobility, and rapid deployment and maintenance.
Design elements include two steered axles, an independent suspension system and run-flat tires for advanced mobility, a high level of embedded armor protection, spall liners for the crew compartments, and drivetrain and steering linkages within the hull for superior survivability. A computer-based interactive maintenance and repair diagnostic system enables complete powerpack changes in about 30 minutes. Other current customers for the vehicle include Austria, Belgium, Gabon, Kuwait, Slovenia, the United States, and Portugal.
"We are very pleased to have been selected as the Czech Republic's partner on this important program. The Pandur II family of amphibious combat vehicles comprises a cost-effective, versatile, high-performance transportation system that meets demanding force-protection requirements," said Christian Fuchs, managing director of Steyr.
The vehicles will be produced in Austria and the Czech Republic. General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems is based in Vienna, Austria, and is composed of three European land combat systems companies owned by General Dynamics: MOWAG GmbH, of Kreuzlingen, Switzerland; General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas, of Madrid, Spain; and Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 72,200 people worldwide and had 2005 revenue of $21.2 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 or www.gdls.com/programs/pandur.html.
