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2015-05-01

HIGH DEMAND FOR PANDUR FAMILY

The PANDUR represents a family of wheeled armoured vehicles serving as a common platform for various armament and equipment. The key features are: High mobility, 6x6 and 8x8 configuration with logistic commonality, versatile armament and equipment, high survivability and protection, simple operation, excellent sustainability, high availability and good maintainability

The PANDUR 6x6 is 6.20 m long, 2.50m wide and has a total weight of 15 tons. The vehicle reaches a top speed of 100 km/h on the road. The PANDUR 6x6 easily manages gradients of up to 60 per cent and fording depths of up to 1.2 m. The 210 kW engine in combination with the automatic transmission, the modern independent wheel suspension, the tyre pressure control system and the Automatic Drivetrain Management (ADM) give the PANDUR 6x6 a high level of mobility even in heavy terrain. Moreover, the high level of ballistic protection offers an advanced safety level to the crew on a mission. The vehicle and all its systems can be operated in extremely hot climates.

The Pandur 6x6 family of wheeled armoured vehicles has been developed by Steyr-Daimler-Puch of Austria and is manufactured by AV Technology International (a General Dynamics company) of Chesterfield, Michigan, USA. In November 2003, General Dynamics took over Steyr-Daimler-Puch, which is now part of General Dynamics European Land Systems, along with MOWAG of Switzerland and General Dynamics, Santa Barbara Sistemas (GDSBS) of Spain.

The Pandur has been operational with the Austrian Army since 1996 (68 vehicles) and is in service with the Kuwait National Guard (70 vehicles), the Belgian Army (60 vehicles) and the Slovenian Army (36 vehicles). The US Army awarded a contract for up to 50 Pandur vehicles to form the basis of the Armoured Ground Mobility System.

In May 2003, the Slovenian Army ordered a further 36 Pandur vehicles. The vehicles were manufactured by Sistemska Tehnika under licence. In May 2004, Gabon purchased one Pandur APC of a requirement for up to 20 vehicles.

Armoured vehicle variants

All variants use the same chassis configured in one of two basic models, “A’’ Model with an extended centre roof or “B” Model with a flat roof design. The various configurations include: Armoured personnel carriers fitted with light and heavy machine-gun cupolas and turrets including the AV-30 and USMC Upgunned Weapon Station; armoured fighting vehicles and reconnaissance vehicles, including the MultiGun Turreted System mounting 25mm, 30mm or 35mm cannons; combat support vehicles including 90mm, anti-tank, and mortar systems; and service support vehicles including ambulance, engineer, logistics and command and control.

For the reconnaissance and fire support role the vehicle is equipped with a Cockerill 90mm LCTS turret with a Mark 8 gun, coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and 7.62mm cupola machine gun. Four smoke grenade launchers are fitted on either side of the turret.

The turret weapon control system is electro-mechanically powered with digital control and manual backup. Elevation is -9 to +20° with full 360° traverse. The gunner’s station is fitted with a combined day and thermal imaging sight with a stabilised head mirror and an integrated laser rangefinder. The commander has a panoramic day sight featuring gyro-stabilised line of sight. A monitor displays the gunner’s thermal channel.

The armoured personnel carrier is armed with a 11.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun and a 7.62m MG3 general purpose machine gun. The main gun is mounted on a shielded traverse ring which can travel through 360°. The driver has three episcopic sights and the commander’s observation cupola has five episcopes. Six smoke grenade launchers are fitted on either side of the turret. A long bodied variant accommodates the driver and commander and ten fully equipped troops.

Pandur II

Steyr-Daimler Puch has developed the Pandur II, which began trials in September 2001. Pandur II is available in 6x6 and 8x8 versions. It is powered by a more powerful 355hp Cummins ISC 350 diesel engine and has an extended wheelbase and modified hull. The first 8x8 prototype is an IFV armed with a 30mm cannon. Standard equipment includes central tyre inflation system and automatic drive train management.

The baseline version of the Pandur II is an infantry 6x6 armoured personnel carrier configured to carry a driver, gunner, and commander with six fully equipped troops. Other versions in the Pandur II family are in 6x6 and 8x8 configurations and include a platoon command vehicle, company or battalion command vehicle, fully amphibious armoured vehicle, an anti-tank guided weapon carrier, forward observer vehicle, battlefield ambulance and a driver training vehicle.

The Pandur II 6x6 can be armed with weapons up to calibre 90mm. The Pandur II 8x8 can be fitted with a two-person 105mm low-profile turret system supplied by General Dynamics Land Systems. Other weapons up to 105mm calibre can be fitted to suit the operational requirements. Optional weapon fits include a two-man turret with automatic tracking, a day and night fire control system, stabilised 30mm Mauser cannon and 7.62mm co-axial general purpose machine gun as fitted on the Ulan IFV deployed by the Austrian Army.

The Pandur II has a longer wheel base and modified hull compared to the Pandur I. The vehicle provides protection against 7.62mm armour piercing rounds. Add-on armour protects against 14.5mm armour piercing shells at 100m. Spall liners and additional armour protection against landmines can be fitted as an option.The vehicle has an intermediate floor and the seats along the sides of the cabin are suspended from wall and ceiling mounts rather than floor mounted.

The 6x6 Pandur II carries up to 12 crew and the 8x8 carries up to 14 crew. The crew compartment can be fitted with air circulation, an NBC protection system and fire detection and suppression. The troops are able to rapidly embark or disembark through two doors in the rear of the vehicle. A rear power-operated ramp can be fitted.

Amphibious version

The amphibious version of the Pandur, requiring no stopping time for preparation, has a combat weight of 13.5t. The exhaust pipe is extended and water jets on the back of the hull provide a maximum speed in water of 11km/h. The vehicle can pivot through 180° in 8s.

Armour protection against 12.7mm weapon systems is provided in the frontal 30° arc and against 7.62mm calibre all round. A spall liner and mine protection carpet are installed to minimise the secondary effects of armour penetration and mines. The drivetrain and steering linkages are protected within the armoured hull.

Design features to reduce the thermal signature of the vehicle include a thermally insulated exhaust system and the use of infra-red absorbing paint. The design of vehicle surfaces has been computer optimised to minimise the radar cross section of the vehicle. The noise signature has been reduced with engine and exhaust silencing systems.

Diesel

The Pandur vehicle is powered by a Steyr WD 612 diesel engine, rated at 195kW (265hp). The hydraulically controlled automatic Allison transmission has torque converter and lockup clutch. The vehicle’s computer system gives electronic control of systems such as gear locks and clutches, maintenance and repair diagnostic system, with visual and acoustic warnings. The two steered axles allow manoeuvrability after damage to the first axle. A tyre inflation system gives optimised traction on all terrain due to continuously adjustable tyre pressure. Maximum speed is 110km/h and cruising range is 650km.

The power pack is installed at the front right of the vehicle and the driver’s station at the front right. The common power pack on the 6x6 and 8x8 variants of Pandur II can be removed and replaced in the field in 30 minutes.

The Pandur II is equipped with a Cummins ISC 350 diesel engine rated at 285hp (an increase of 25 per cent power compared to the 285hp Steyr 260 engine installed in the Pandur I). The engine is fitted with an electronic engine management system. A 400 horsepower engine is available as an option. A water heater provides engine preheating for cold starting and for heating the crew compartment.

The Pandur II has demonstrated a maximum road speed of 100km per hour and excellent mobility in environmental conditions from -35°C to +50°C. The Pandur II can ford to a depth of 1.5m. A fully amphibious Pandur II is fitted with two mechanically driven water jets and a hydraulically operated trim vane mounted at the front of the chassis. The driver operates the controls to erect the trim vane from his position at the driver’s station. The vehicle achieves a speed of 10km/h in water. The Pandur II can be transported in roll on/roll off mode by Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130 aircraft.

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