GDELS Vehicles - IQPC.com

Communication
GDELS Vehicles – More Leeway to Maneuver
GDELS is a business unit of General
Dynamics Corporation and conducts its
business through European operating sites
located in Spain, Germany, Austria, and
Switzerland. With more than 3,250 highly
skilled technical employees and as one of the
European leaders in the land combat systems
sector, GDELS focuses on four specific
product lines: tracked vehicles, wheeled
vehicles, bridges, artillery and ammunition.
Moreover it has a dynamic network of R&D
centers and provides global customer service
including integrated logistics support. Its main
products comprise wheeled vehicles
(PIRANHA, PANDUR, EAGLE, DURO),
tracked vehicles (ASCOD), bridging systems
(M3 IAB, MTB, REBS, IRB), artillery systems
(SIAC Howitzer and DONAR) and
ammunitions.
The EAGLE family of vehicles
The EAGLE is based on the advanced
GDELS-Mowag DURO chassis technology
with its patented roll stabilizer and the proven
De-Dion-type axle system. The EAGLE family
of vehicles offers the highest level of
commonalities within the GDELS-Mowag fleet
of light tactical vehicles. This military
off-the-shelf product features very high payload
versus low GVW, best-in-class protection level
as well as exceptional mobility, both on and off
road. Most of today’s combat operations
demand higher levels of survivability and
capacity than previously provided by light
tactical vehicles, which resulted in the trend
towards vehicles that are typically around 14 to
22 tons with subsequent compromises in
mobility and tactical flexibility.
EAGLE 4x4-Recce
Conversely to this trend, GDELS engineers
have managed to reach a MRAP mine
protection level, while avoiding the classical
drawbacks usually tied to this category of
vehicles (such as high center of gravity, low
mobility, small internal volume, low level of
payload, etc.). This was possible by using
cutting-edge technologies and innovative
concepts for the design of the EAGLE’s crew
cell and mission modules. The EAGLE sets a
new survivability standard for the light tactical
vehicle class and provides certified and proven
mine, IED and ballistic protection, previously only
provided by vehicles up to twice its weight. The
modularity of the vehicle allows the tactical
commander to adapt the vehicle to new threats
encountered in theater.
EAGLE 6x6 - Ambulance
The forthcoming 6x6 member widens the EAGLE
family of vehicles, ranging now from a 4x4, 2-men
cab, light support vehicle up to a 15-ton highly
protected 6x6 armored personnel carrier (up to
2+9 passengers) while delivering an outstanding
growth potential.
The EAGLE family of vehicles has been
developed to offer the possibility to standardize
the entire light tactical vehicle fleet of a customer.
Therefore, using only one platform covering all the
needs, the EAGLE family allows reducing the
through-life support cost of the entire fleet.
Suited to be involved in coercive military actions
as well as in peace keeping operations, the
versatility and modularity of this vehicle shows that
the GDELS-Mowag R&D center has managed to
reach the perfect balance between the two main
blocks of constraints usually curtailing innovation
in military vehicle design: strategic mobility, weight
and protection and on the other hand tactical and
operational mobility, modularity and flexibility.
Consequently, whenever a light tactical vehicle is
required to lead a mission across the continuum of
military operations, the EAGLE is the vehicle of
choice, allowing the soldiers to use the four
tactical methods without any constraint: Offensive,
Defensive, Security and Assistance.
EAGLE 4x4-Police
The outstanding versatility of the combat proven
and reliable DURO chassis technology (more than
5’000 units are fielded worldwide) and the
survivability expertise of GDELS-Mowag enable
the soldiers to rely on a light mobile EAGLE
6x6 APC which offers largest internal volume,
most payload capability and full
communication between driver’s cab and
mission shelter. This vehicle is the best
alternative to MRAP vehicles, because it
allows the tactical unit commanders to
exclusively focus on their tactical maneuver,
while both protection and mobility are
ensured. This gives them more leeway to
combine response and surprise maneuvers in
order to defeat the enemy’s tactical schemes
and unconventional actions.
The EAGLE family of vehicles has been
created to complement the PIRANHA fleet
designed to prevail on the battlefields of
today and to meet the threats of tomorrow.
The PIRANHA family of vehicles
The PIRANHA family of vehicles offers the
features and performance required of a
modern, multi-role vehicle, and is well suited
to practically any battlefield and peace
enforcement or stabilization role anywhere in
the world.
The PIRANHA 3 includes the modular family
approach: power pack in the front right-hand
side, central driveline, independent wheel
suspension, amphibious capabilities and
large useable volume at the rear for weapon
stations, equipment and troops. These
features are identical throughout all vehicle
versions.
It offers a payload versus GVW which is
unrivalled on today's vehicle market with
respect to protection levels, internal volume
and constant excellent mobility.
Global military operations have seen an
increasing demand for a vehicle that bridges
the gap between deployable light forces, with
their inherent lower survivability, and more
survivable heavy-tracked forces. PIRANHA 5
has been developed in response to this need
and takes advantage of the latest
technologies to deliver class leading
survivability, capacity and mobility with low
through-life costs and inherent growth
capacity. It has been designed from the
outset with adaptability, flexibility and growth
capacity as the corner stones of the design.
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Communication
PIRANHA 3
Nowadays, wheeled armored combat vehicles
are the core of deployable land forces and
need to be effective across the complete
continuum of operations.
PIRANHA 5 provides the highest levels of
survivability against conventional and
asymmetric threats, while having the capacity
to fill all battlefield roles. As infantry fighting
vehicle, PIRANHA 5 delivers the troop and
internal capacity of an APC with seating for
eleven persons. A 30 mm remote turret
enables a small team to carry out combined
arms operations using its comprehensive
range of weapon and sensor systems, allowing
the detection and engagement of a wide range
of battlefield threats.
accessibility and is the most agile wheeled
armored combat vehicle available today.
The PIRANHA 5 is equipped with numerous other
systems that enhance vehicle performance and
flexibility, such as the digital MilCAN backbone,
fuel-efficient drive train technology, integrated
heating, air-conditioning and NBC protection
system and the 120 kW Inline Starter/Generator
(ISG). As an example of the unrivalled
performance PIRANHA 5 provides, the ISG
generates the power for on-board systems while
simultaneously providing up to 100 kW exportable
power to sustain military or civilian infrastructure.
The ISG also has the growth capability to recover
brake energy to be re-used to boost the vehicle
power output to 700 hp while at the same time
reducing fuel consumption.
The ASCOD family of vehicles
The ASCOD is one of the best infantry/cavalry
fighting vehicles in the world today. It is the result
of the joint development of our Spanish and
Austrian sites. The ASCOD is a tracked armored
vehicle with a monocoque hull of armor steel
plates with a capacity for a combat group of seven
riflemen and a three-man crew, with a high
power/weight ratio thanks to its combat weight of
28 tons.
The power pack and running gear with seven
wheels, three supporting rollers and wide steel
track make a high mobility vehicle with maximum
speeds of 70 km/h forward and 35 km/h in
reverse.
leading ergonomics, delivers improved
survivability and fightability for its crew.
Technology and innovation
management
GDELS invests in the continued development
of its products. The GDELS engineering
organization directs and coordinates the R&D
technology and product design projects
between sites.
Leading knowledge in the areas of protection,
mobility and system integration is
implemented in our products to the benefit of
our customers. In the area of development,
we live up to our slogan “Defense solutions
for the future”. Every employee involved in
product development is aware of his/her role
and responsibility and takes pride in the
performance of our products for the
protection of the soldiers in the field.
Desert PIRANHA 5
PIRANHA 5 is the best protected 8x8 vehicle
available, and provides the highest levels of
mine, IED and ballistic protection. PIRANHA 5
has a next-generation, full coverage, modular
survivability system that was integrated in the
vehicle design right from the beginning.
PIRANHA 5 also features a range of modular
survivability kits that allow the tactical
commander to adapt the vehicle in theater.
This ensures vehicle suitability for operation in
complex terrain against aggressive threats.
State-of-the-art active protection systems can
be integrated in the vehicle. In addition to
these modular systems, substantial progress
has been made in crew ergonomics,
energy-absorbing seating and occupant
restraint systems that further improve the
survivability of the PIRANHA 5 when facing the
threats of today and tomorrow.
PIRANHA 5 features the latest height
adjustable McPherson strut suspension
technology which endows the vehicle with an
extraordinary level of cross country mobility.
This suspension, in combination with the high
output power pack, fourth axle steering and
integrated driver support systems, ensures that
PIRANHA 5 has the highest level of terrain
ASCOD
The latest member of the ASCOD has been
designed to a rating of 42 tons and incorporates a
fully proven transmission rated at 45 tons as well
as a modern drive train, which is prepared for the
30-year life span of the vehicle and thereby
obviates the need for a mid-life upgrade.
It offers a load-carrying potential of up to 42 tons
with an outstanding growth potential providing the
ability to meet possible future threats over its
entire life span, and is able to carry its heaviest
variants.
It features also a common-base platform for
variants, such as armored personnel carriers,
protected mobility vehicles, repair and recovery
vehicles.
An open electronic architecture, available across
all variants, make the ASCOD fleet easier to
maintain, simplifies training, and plays a key role
in lowering costs throughout the life of the
vehicles. Moreover, it offers an advanced turret
design which, because of its internal space and
The latest modeling and simulation tools are
at our disposal and enable us to virtually
verify our developments before the actual
prototypes exist. Protection systems are
developed with appropriate simulations and
verified by life testing of the hardware.
In-house testing departments are available
for system-specific tests allowing us to supply
our customers with technically mature
products.
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