Austria strengthens its armored fleet with 225 new Pandur Evo vehicles.

On February 19, 2024, General Dynamics European Land Systems – Steyr (GDELS-Steyr) announced that the Austrian Ministry of Defense had expanded its military vehicle fleet by ordering 225 Pandur 6×6 Evolution (Evo) armored vehicles. The agreement was formalized in a ceremony attended by Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner. We had already spoken about rumors regarding this agreement on February 15, 2024, on Army Recognition.
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Austrian Ministry of Defense had expanded its military vehicle fleet by ordering 225 Pandur 6×6 Evolution (Evo) armored vehicles. (Picture source: Bundesheer)

The rumor turned out to be true, and the Austrian government officially confirmed the acquisition of an additional 225 Pandur Evos for its armed forces.

This latest acquisition includes a variety of configurations such as armored personnel carriers and specialized versions for medical, command-and-control, and anti-tank roles, as well as eight new variants for the Austrian forces. These new additions include 120 mm mortar carriers and variants dedicated to mobile air defense and electronic warfare.

The purchase is part of Austria's Development Plan 2032, aimed at a comprehensive modernization of its military capabilities. GDELS-Steyr emphasized that this initiative would significantly enhance the mobility, protection, and operational capacity of the Austrian Army's medium infantry units.

The Pandur Evolution 6x6 is an armored vehicle designed to offer an optimal combination of mobility, power, and protection, suitable for efficient operation in various environments with its dimensions of 6.70 meters long, 2.60 meters wide, and 2.20 meters high. With a maximum allowed weight of 19 tons and a curb weight of 14.5 tons, it is powered by a 6-cylinder Cummins engine delivering 335 kW (455 horsepower), ensuring a power-to-weight ratio of 17.6 kW/t (24 HP/t).

Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner highlighted the significance of this investment, the largest for the Austrian Army in two decades, amounting to 1.8 billion euros. She emphasized its dual benefits for national security and economic vitality, noting that domestic production of the Pandur vehicles would stimulate job creation and support over 220 local companies, with 70% of the production value generated in Austria.

Before this, the Austrian Army had already integrated a hundred Pandur Evo vehicles into its fleet through three separate orders placed since 2016, with the latest batch of 36 vehicles currently in production.

GDELS-Steyr’s managing director, Martin Reischer, and GDELS President Antonio Bueno, both underscored the strategic importance of this purchase. They praised the exceptional performance and versatility of the Pandur Evo and acknowledged the continuation of the partnership with Austria, which not only enhances the capabilities of the armed forces but also promotes economic growth and job creation in the country.

The Pandur Evo 6×6 vehicles are manufactured at GDELS' facility in Vienna Simmering, recognized as a center of excellence for wheeled and tracked military vehicles. The Pandur Evo series has been part of the Austrian military since 1996 and is used by several other countries worldwide.