Pandur 8X8 APC

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Country Of Origin:	Austria and Portugal
Designation:	APC
Configuration:	8 x 8
Manufacturer:	Steyr-Daimler-Puch
Crew:	2 plus 12 (APC version)
Length:	7.02 m (23 ft)
Width:	2.67 m (8 ft 9in)
Height:	1.85 m (6ft 1 in)
Max. combat weight:	22,000 kg
Payload:	8,500 kg
Speed:	105 km/h (65 mph) (road)
Range:	up to 700 km
Primary armament:	up to 105 mm turret
Secondary armament:	Machine Gun
Power plant:	6 cylinder in-line liquid-cooled turbo-charged intercooled diesel, 335 kw

The Pandur II 8 X 8 is an improved version of the Pandur 6 X 6 wheeled armoured vehicle. It was developed as a private venture by the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge and is currently in production for the defence forces of Portugal and the Czech Republic. Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge is part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems, which is also the parent company of Mowag of Switzerland and Santa Barbara Sistemas of Spain.

The most significant change is the introduction of an 8 x 8 configuration with more interior space. The construction is an all-welded steel hull with optional armour upgrades. The basic armour package is designed to protect against 7.62mm (0.3in) armour piercing rounds. The vehicle is designed to be transportable in a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules Transport aircraft. The driver is seated on the left at the front and the engine is to the right. The driver is provided with a single piece hatch cover as well as three day periscopes, one of which can be replaced by a passive periscope for night missions. The vehicle is fitted with a two stage synchronized distribution gear box for both road and cross country use. Improved suspension will be fitted for optimum cross country mobility. It is designed to take a number of turret systems, such as the SP 30 turret also mounted on the ASCOD AFV of the Spanish and Austrian Armies, or can be used as a standard APC with a mounted machine gun.

With the turret the vehicle can carry six infantry. Without the turret, it can carry 12.

[edit] Operators

In 2005 the Portugese Government signed a deal for 260 vehicles in 15 different variants, of which 218 will be produced locally. The purchase price was EUR 364 million. The armament includes variants with Steyr SP 30 turrets and ranges from cal. 12.7 mm machine gun to cal. 120 mm mortar. The first batch of vehicles will be delivered in 2007.

Steyr SSF scored another export success in 2006, when the Czech Republic ordered 199 (plus 35 optional) Pandur II 8x8 vehicles for delivery between 2007 and 2012. 18 different variants will be delivered. The most numerous will be the IFV version (63) equipped with an remote-controlled weapons station produced by Rafael of Israel. This system will feature an ATK 30mm MK 44 cannon, 7.62mm co-axial machine gun and a launcher for the Spike-LR anti-tank guided weapon system. [1].

Currently Steyr Spezialfahrzeuge is participating in two competitions, in Croatia and Macedonia. In both countries the Pandur faces a tough competition from the Patria AMV.

The Austrian Army has stated a requirement for up to 128 Pandur II, to equip two army battalions, but is currently lacking funds for this purchase.

The Pandur 8X8 APC is manufactured in Austria while export versions are also built in the Czech Republic and in Barreiro, Portugal.