The PIRANHA is a family of 8x8 armored vehicles. Its initial design dates back to the early 1970s, signed by the Swiss company Mowag, now part of GDELS (General Dynamics European Land Systems). So far, five weight categories of vehicles (PIRANHA 1 to 5) have been brought successfully to the market, manufactured either in Switzerland by Mowag or under license by other companies.
Country users : Belgium, Botswana, Brazil,
Denmark, Ghana, Ireland, Chile,
Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Technical Data
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Armament
The PIRANHA wheeled armored vehicle can be fitted with different types of one-man or two-man turrets armed with a medium-caliber gun up to 40mm to be used as an IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle), or a large-caliber gun up to 120mm for fire support. In terms of light weapons, the vehicle can be fitted with a ring mount or a manual turret armed with a machine gun of up to 12.7mm caliber. Like all modern wheeled armored vehicles, the PIRANHA can also be fitted with a remotely operated weapon station armed with a machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The open architecture of the vehicle provides also the possibility to integrate a medium caliber weapon station in a manned or unmanned turret, with a cannon of up to 40mm. The PIRANHA can be configured to be used as a fire support vehicle armed with a 90, 105, or 120mm cannon using low-recoil technology, or even as a 155mm artillery system.
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Design and protection
The design concept of the PIRANHA wheeled armored vehicle is divided into three main sections: the driver at the front-left with the engine at his right, a weapon station mounted on the roof in the middle of the vehicle, and the troop compartment at the rear. The vehicle has an overall length of 8m. It is 2.45m high over the hull. The PIRANHA 4 is 2.80m wide, while the PIRANHA 5 is 3m wide. In APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) version, the rear part of the hull can accommodate up to 10 people. The PIRANHA has an empty weight of 18,500 kg and can carry a maximum payload of up to 14,500 kg offering the possibility to mount different types of weapon systems and to carry additional modular armor kits that can be adapted according to the needs of the customers or specific threats of the battlefield. The roof of the vehicle contains hatches and the rear part of the vehicle is fitted with a ramp enabling the infantrymen to quickly leave or enter. The PIRANHA provides a modular, interchangeable protection system, which can be adapted to the most significant threat scenarios to which the vehicle can be exposed. The vehicle hull is made of armored steel and the scalable add-on armor are the main elements of this modular protection system. Protection against mine blasts is obtained through a protection module inside the vehicle that doesn’t affect its mobility, as well as through special seats and a careful definition of the fixations and installations. The maximum armor level provides all-around protection against medium-caliber armor-piercing projectiles. In option, the vehicle can be fitted with an APS (Active Protection System) to protect the vehicle against multiple and tandem firings of various projectiles such as RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades), ATGWs (Anti-Tank Guided Weapons), and HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) gun projectiles.
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Mobility
The PIRANHA wheeled armored vehicle is powered by a Scania DC13 diesel engine coupled to a ZF automatic transmission with 5 forward and 2 reverse gears. An economic Fuel-Efficient Drivetrain System (FEDS) and the high-performance Euro 3 compliant diesel engine provide the expected power and operating ranges. The use of a unique independent suspension system with a Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS) and Anti-locking Brake System (ABS), as well as the high power-to-weight ratio results in a class of wheeled vehicles offering excellent mobility on the road and in difficult terrain. The PIRANHA has a selectable all-wheel-drive traction system that enables the driver to choose 8×8 for off-road driving or a fuel-efficient 8×4 for travel on hard surfaces. The PIRANHA can reach a maximum road speed of 100 km/h, with a maximum cruising range of 1,000 km. It can negotiate side slopes of 40% maximum and a gradient of 60%. The vehicle has 45° angles of approach and departure. It can cross natural or man-made obstacles up to 750 mm high and trenches 2.2 m wide. It can ford to a depth of 2.0 m without preparation.
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Combat Equipment
Standard equipment of the PIRANHA includes high-capacity Li-Ion batteries for extended silent watch operations, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) protection system, a fire-suppression system for the engine and crew compartment, and an Arctic kit. The open vehicle architecture according to NGVA enables easy and flexible integration of various subsystems and provides the user and maintenance personnel with on-board diagnostic capability. In option, the PIRANHA can be fitted with additional equipment like an auxiliary power unit (APU), an electrical A/C system, a dozer blade, a mine roller, a laser, and radar warning system, a camera system for the driver, a self-recovery winch, and a power management system for supervision and control of all power sources. In standard configuration, the vehicle is not amphibious but it can be fitted with an amphibious kit including a seawater cooling system and closeable louvers for the engine. In the water, the vehicle is propelled by two propellers mounted on both sides, low down at the rear of the hull. The vehicle can then reach 10 km/h.
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