The Austrian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has ordered an additional 225 Pandur 6×6 Evolution (Evo) wheeled armed vehicles, manufacturer General Dynamics European Land Systems – Steyr (GDELS-Steyr) announced on 19 February 2024.
A contract for the vehicles was signed that day in the presence of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner.
As well as armoured personnel carrier variants and flexible conversion kits for medical, command-and-control and anti-tank missions, the order includes eight new vehicle variants to be introduced to the Austrian armed forces, including 120 mm mortar carriers, as well as mobile air defence and electronic warfare variants.
The procurement is part of Austria’s Development Plan 2032, which is designed to effect a comprehensive modernisation of the Austrian armed forces. The additional vehicles will give the Austrian Army’s medium infantry forces a significant increase in mobility, protection, and effectiveness, according to GDELS-Steyr.
“The procurement of 225 additional Pandur Evolutions in different variants is the largest acquisition by the Austrian Army in 20 years,” Tanner was quoted as saying in a GDELS-Steyr press release. “With an investment volume of EUR 1.8 billion, we are not only investing in the security of Austria, but moreover in Austria as a business location. With 70% value creation in Austria the domestic Pandur production secures and creates jobs at over 220 companies,” she added.
A hundred Pandur Evo vehicles have already been ordered for Austrian Army: 34 ordered in 2016 and delivered by 2020, 30 ordered in October 2020 and delivered by 2023, and a the third batch of 36 ordered in September 2022 that is currently in production and delivery.
“Since the acquisition of the first batch in 2016 we have persistently been creating and fortifying high added value for Austria by including more than 220 Austrian subcontractors,” GDELS-Steyr managing director Martin Reischer was quoted as saying. “The new fourth batch of 225 Pandur Evos further contributes to the protected mobility of the Austrian armed forces and allows us and our suppliers to hire additional skilled labour and to further invest in our industrial facilities in Austria.”
GDELS President Antonio Bueno added, “Today’s procurement decision marks an extraordinary milestone in the history of our Pandur and underlines the globally unique performance and multi-role capability of this wheeled armoured vehicle family. Since the very beginning, Austria has been one of GDELS’ home countries. Consequently, we are fully dedicated and proud to continuing our proven, trusted partnership by providing the Austrian armed forces with enhanced military mobility, while at the same time contributing to sustainable macro-economic added-value together with our many industry partners.”
The Pandur Evo 6×6 is built at GDELS’ Steyr facility in Vienna Simmering: the national centre of excellence for wheeled and tracked protected military mobility. Preceding versions of the Pandur Evo have been in service with the Austrian armed forces since 1996.
In total more than 3,000 Pandur armoured vehicles of all types, in both in 6×6 and 8×8 configurations, are in service worldwide. Beyond Austria users include Belgium, the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Kuwait, Portugal, Slovenia, Ukraine and the United States.
