Moldova receives two Piranha-3H APCs from Germany.

As reported by the Moldovan Ministry of Defense on October 17, 2023, the National Army of the Republic of Moldova received two additional Piranha-3H armored personnel carriers through a donation from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. These Piranha-3H armored personnel carriers will be utilized to train Moldovan military personnel, equipping them for potential future international peacekeeping missions.
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Moldova will receive a total of 19 Pirahna-3H armored personnel carriers from Germany (Picture source: Moldova MoD)

This donation originated from an agreement signed between the Moldovan Ministry of Defense and the German government in October 2021, encompassing a total of 19 Piranha-3H armored personnel carriers, with the initial batch of Piranha-3H delivered to Moldova in January 2023.

The Swiss MOWAG Piranha-3H is an armored personnel carrier that belongs to the family of Piranha-3 vehicles, introduced in 1996, with 6x6, 8x8, and 10x10 configurations. It offers increased payload capacity and gross vehicle weight compared to its predecessor, the Piranha II family, along with enhanced protection and mobility.

The Piranha-3H is powered by a front-mounted engine with various options, such as the German MTU 6V182 TE22, the Swedish Scania DSJ9-48A, the American Caterpillar 3126, the American Detroit Diesel 6V53TA, and the British Cummins 6CTAA8.3-T350, with power outputs ranging from 350 to 400 horsepower. The Piranha-3H has a maximum road speed of 105 km/h and a range of 600 km. The vehicle is capable of handling challenging terrains, with a 60% gradient, 30% side slope, and the ability to cross trenches of up to 2 m.

The Piranha-3H is equipped with a composite armor suite, providing a higher level of protection compared to previous Piranha and LAV series vehicles. It can be armed with various weapons based on customer requirements, typically including a remotely-controlled 12.7 mm machine gun and coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. The vehicle accommodates a crew of 2 or 3 and can transport 8 to 9 fully-equipped soldiers. It features rear doors for troop entry and exit, as well as roof hatches for observation, firing, and emergency exit.