Piranha III Armoured vehicle personnel carrier
 
 
 
Piranha 3 III C wheeled armoured vehicle personnel carrier data sheet specifications description information intelligence identification pictures photos images Mowag General Dynamics European Land Systems Switzerland Swiss Army defence industry military technology
 
Description 
The Piranha III is a family of wheeled armored vehicles developed by Mowag Motorwagenfabriken of Switzerland, now part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems (ELCS). In response to market requirements for a vehicle with increased mobility and armour protection, MOWAG developed as a private venture the Piranha III series of 6 × 6, 8 × 8 and 10 × 10 armored vehicles.  Piranha III has been ordered by Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Spain and Switzerland. Sweden (13 vehicles) has ordered the 10x10 command vehicle and sensor vehicle for the coastal artillery; Denmark (22 – delivered) 8x8 APC; Ireland (40 delivered plus 25) APC; and Spain (18) 8x8 amphibious vehicles in APC, command post and ambulance variations, for deployment with the Spanish Marine Infantry. In March 2006, Belgium awarded a contract to Mowag for the first batch of 138 Piranha IIIC vehicles, to be delivered between 2007 and 2012. Ireland ordered a further 15 in January 2006. The PIRANHA family of vehicles offers the features and performances required of a modern, multi-role vehicle, and is well suited to practically any battlefield or peace-keeping/peace-enforcing role anywhere in the world. This type of vehicle can serve as an Armored Personnel Carrier or as an ideal platform for a complete range of mission equipment, including weapons systems from small caliber turrets up to 105 mm guns for superior firepower.
 
Variants
- Piranha III 6x6
- Piranha III 8x8
- Piranha III 10x10
- Piranha III 8x8 APC: armoured vehicle personnel carrier with machine gun 12,7 or 7,62 mm
- Piranha III 8x8 IFV: infantry fighting vehicle with two or one-man turret armed with 20 or 30 mm gun
- Piranha III 8x8 NBC: reconnaissance vehicle for NBC mission
- Piranha III 8x8 C3: Command , control & Communication vehicle
- Piranha 8x8 MRV: Maintenance and recovery armoured vehicle
- Piranha III AMB: Ambulance version battlefield medical evacuation armoured vehicle
 
Technical Data 
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Armament
The basic version of Piranha III can be equipped with a lot of system weapons variants. The turret is mounted in the center of the hull and varies according to the vehicle type. The basic variant of Piranha III 6 × 6 model, for example, has an externally mounted 7.62 mm machine gun which can be aimed and fired from within the vehicle in complete safety. Other versions as 8x8 and 10x10 can be equipped with the Oto Melara HITFIST Overhead Weapon Station, armed with the 30 mm automatic gun, co-axial 7.62 mm machine gun and the SPIKE anti-tank missile launcher.
Protection
The hull of the MOWAG Piranha III series is of all-welded high-hardness steel armor construction that provides the occupants with protection from small arms fire and shell splinters. The third-generation Piranha family is based on a new lightweight hull design with increased variable ballistic protection and higher performance in terms of payload versus gross vehicle weight and increased useable internal volume.  
Mobility
To the right of the driver is the power pack. The complete power pack, consisting of the engine, transmission and cooling system, can now be changed much more quickly under field conditions and there are now no less than three different high-performance diesel power pack options. The basic vehicle is powered by Diesel Caterpillar C9 Engine coupled to a ZF 7HP602 automatic transmission with seven forward gears and one reverse gear. The Piranha III vehicles are available in 6 × 6, 8 × 8 and 10 × 10 configurations. According to MOWAG, cross-country mobility of the Piranha III vehicle is now similar to that of a tracked vehicle. The suspension of Piranha III
Accessories
The Piranha baseline vehicles have two propellers for water propulsion with maximum speed in water of 10km/hr and an amphibious kit is provided for rough seawater operations. An 8,000 kg pulling capacity type self-recovery winch can be front or rear mounted. Other optional equipment includes an air conditioning system, arctic heater kit, NBC system, fire and explosion detection and suppression system and various communications systems.
 
Specifications
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Armament
Remote controlled weapon station armed with weapons up to 12.7 mm in caliber. (basic version)
a
Country user
Belgium, Brazil, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Spain.
Designer Country
Switzerland
Accessories
NBC protection system, fire extinguishing system, self-recovery winch
Personnel
13
Armor
Modular, scaleable ballistic/Mine/IED and RPG protection solutions in accordance with international/customer specific standards.
Weight
14,000 kg ready for operation
Speed
100 km/h maximum speed on road, 10 km/h in water
Range
750 km on road
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Dimensions
Length, 7.30 m; Width, 2.20 m; Height, 2.66 m
 
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Piranha 3 III C wheeled armoured vehicle personnel carrier data sheet specifications description information intelligence identification pictures photos images Mowag General Dynamics European Land Systems Switzerland Swiss Army defence industry military technology
 
Piranha 3 III C wheeled armoured vehicle personnel carrier data sheet specifications description information intelligence identification pictures photos images Mowag General Dynamics European Land Systems Switzerland Swiss Army defence industry military technology
Piranha 3 III C wheeled armoured vehicle personnel carrier data sheet specifications description information intelligence identification pictures photos images Mowag General Dynamics European Land Systems Switzerland Swiss Army defence industry military technology
   
Piranha 3 III C wheeled armoured vehicle personnel carrier data sheet specifications description information intelligence identification pictures photos images Mowag General Dynamics European Land Systems Switzerland Swiss Army defence industry military technology Piranha 3 III C wheeled armoured vehicle personnel carrier data sheet specifications description information intelligence identification pictures photos images Mowag General Dynamics European Land Systems Switzerland Swiss Army defence industry military technology
 
Pictures - Video 
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