Pandur I (6×6)

The Pandur is an APC developed and produced by the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge (SSF). It was developed during the 1980s as a private venture. In 2003, General Dynamics took over Steyr-Daimler-Puch which is now part of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GD ELS), which is also the parent company of MOWAG, Santa Bárbara Sistemas and GDELS – Germany.

Armament

The baseline vehicle is armed with a 12.7 mm (.50 cal) heavy machine gun. Its modular design allows it to be fitted with a variety of weapon systems, including a 20 mm autocannon and an armored two-man 90 mm gun turret. Some Slovenian Pandur 1 (Valuk) are armed with a 40mm automatic grenade launchers with different ammunition like HE, HEDP, smoke and so on.

Variants

• Pandur I
  • Model A – extended centre roof
    • Armoured Personnel Carrier
    • Ambulance
    • Anti-tank vehicle
    • Repair and recovery vehicle
    • Command post vehicle
    • Infantry fighting vehicle (Valuk)
  • Model B – flat roof
    • Amphibious vehicle – greater buoyancy and is propelled in the water by two water jets
    • Mortar carrier
    • Reconnaissance Fire Support Vehicle
• Pandur I EVO
  • Pandur Evo MTPz (in the Austrian Army)^[1]
    • MTPz, "Mannschaftstransportpanzer", an armoured personnel carrier^[2][3]
    • MTPz PAL, "Panzerabwehrlenkwaffe", a tank destroyer^[3]
    • MTPz Aufkl, "Aufklärung", a scout vehicle^[3]
    • MTPz JFS, "Joint Fire Support", a joint fire support vehicle that coordinates artillery, mortar, aircraft fire^[3]
    • MTPz Fü, "Führung", a command and control vehicle^[3]
    • MTPz SGrW, "schwere Granatwerfer", a 120 mm mortar carrier equipped with an Elbit Crossbow turret^[4][5]
    • MTPz FIA, "Flakpanzer", a self-propelled anti-air gun with a Skyranger 30 turret equipped with Mistral 3 missiles^[6][7][3]
    • MTPz SAN, "Sanität", an armoured ambulance that exists in two variants^[8][3]
      • CASEVAC variant
      • MEDEVAC variant
    • MTPz Pi, "Pionier", an armoured engineering vehicle^[8][3]
    • MTPz FüU, a communication vehicle^[8][3]
    • MTPz ERFOS, "Erfassungs- und Ortungssystem", electronic warfare / SIGINT vehicle^[8][3]
    • MTPz STÖRSYS, "Störsystems", an electronic warfare / radio jamming vehicle^[8][3]
  • Pandur EVO Spezialkräfte, a special forces variant proposed by GDELS, equipped with a Valhalla 30mm turret, an anti-drone net, and canisters that can launch the Switchblade 300 Block 20 loitering munition.^[9]
  • Pandur EVO Flugabwehrvariante, with the Moog RIwP anti-air turret installed.^[10]

Operators

Current operators

Pandur I

Austria (71 purchased new, 7 purchased second-hand)

Purchases by the Austrian Armed Forces

• 68 APC ordered in the 1990s, and it entered service in 1996^[11]
• 3 ambulance purchased for €3.8 million and entered service in 2003^[12][13]
• 6 Pandur Recce & Observation (ISTAR) and 1 ambulance were purchased second-hand from the Belgian Army in 2016, used as spare parts^[14]

Belgium (60 purchased new, 7 sold second-hand)

60 built in Belgium between 1996 and 1998 under licence. Purchase:

• 46 Pandur Recce & Observation (ISTAR)
• 10 Pandur Ambulance
• 4 Pandur Maintenance

6 Pandur Recce & Observation (ISTAR) and 1 ambulance were sold second-hand to the Austrian Armed Forces in 2016, used for spare parts^[14]

Gabon (1)

1 purchased by the Gabonese Army^[15][16][17]

Kuwait (70)

Ordered for the Kuwait National Guard (70 in 6 versions, produced by AV Technology).

Slovenia (85 purchased, 20 donated)

85 Pandur produced locally under license, known as LKOV Valuk. 20 donated to Ukraine.^[18] The variants are:

• APC
• Ambulance
• Mortar carrier with CARDOM 120 mm mortar
• Scout with RAFAEL Rafael Overhead Weapon Station (OWS-25) and 25 mm M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon

Ukraine (20 second-hand)

Donated by Slovenia to the Ukrainian Ground Forces in April 2023.^[19]

United States (50)

Purchased for the US Army (50, produced by AV Technology as the Armored Ground Mobility System for USASOC Special Forces/Special Operations Forces units).^[20]

Pandur EVO 6×6

Austria (325 ordered, 64 delivered)

Austrian Armed Forces (325 ordered)

• 34 armoured personnel carrier (known as "Mannschaftstransportpanzer" or MTPz) ordered on 22 December 2016 to GDELS Steyr for €105 million^[16]
• 30 APC were ordered and delivered by 2023^[21]
• 36 APC were ordered in September 2022^[21]
• 225 Pandur EVO 6×6 were ordered in multiple variants in February 2024 for €1.8 billion.^[21] This purchase includes the varriants:^{[22][23][24][25]}

• • APC (known as "Mannschaftstransportpanzer" or "MTPz"), unknown quantity
  • Tank destroyer (known as "Panzerabwehrlenkwaffe" or "PAL"), unknown quantity, equipped with the future anti-tank missile
  • Scout vehicle (known as "Aufklärung" or Aufkl), unknown quantity
  • Coordination tactical fire support (known as "Joint Fire Support" or JFS), unknown quantity
  • Command and control (known as "Führung" or Fü), unknown quantity
  • Mortar carrier (known as "schwere Granatwerfer" or sGrW), equipped with the Elbit Crossbow 120 turret, unknown quantity^[26][5]
  • 36 VSHORAD / SPAAG (known as "Flakpanzer" or FlA) + 9 option, equipped with the Skyranger 30 A3 turret^[27]
  • Armoured ambulance (known as "Sanität" or SAN), unknown quantity^[28]
    • CASEVAC
    • MEDEVAC
  • Armoured engineering vehicle (known as "Pionier" or Pi), unknown quantity^[29]
  • Communication (known as FüU), unknown quantity^[30]
  • Electronic warfare / SIGINT (known as "Erfassungs- und Ortungssystem" or ERFOS), unknown quantity^[31]
  • Electronic warfare / Radio jamming (known as "Störsystems" or STÖRSYS), unknown quantity^[32]

Future operators

Pandur EVO 6×6

The US Department of Defence announced at the end of June 2022 the order of the Armored Ground Mobility System Heavy Platform Vehicles (AGMS) for USD $55.85 million. The procurement should be completed by mid-2025. The vehicle will equip the USASOC Special Forces/Special Operations Forces, and is meant to replace the Pandur I Armored Ground Mobility System.^[19][33]

Potential operators

Pandur EVO 6×6

Slovenia (14)

Slovenian army requested 14 new Pandur EVO in late 2019. Austria is offering a government to government contract with Slovenia as GDELS is willing to offer the 14 Pandur EVO to the army. Currently waiting for the new government to decide for the purchase. Estimated cost is around 40 million Euro.

Spain

The Spanish Army is looking for a 6×6 vehicle for its cavalry. The Pandur I Evo is being considered, among many other options.^[34]

Failed bids

Pandur EVO 6×6

Germany

The Pandur Evo 6×6 was in competition for 3 programmes:

• A new multi role vehicle as a successor to the TPz Fuchs.^[35] The main variant will be an armoured personnel carrier, and specialised variants are expected to be purchased as well. In January 2025, the Patria 6×6 won the bid, and Germany requested a first offer for 300 vehicles.^[36]
• A new mortar carrier is part of the German renewal of the indirect fire support programme. It is known as "Zukünftiges System Indirektes Feuer kleiner Reichweite" (ZukSysIndF kRw), and up to 120 such systems were expected to be purchased, and based on the TPz Fuchs successor, so potentially the Pandur Evo 6×6.^[37] As the Patria 6×6 won the bid for the TPz Fuchs successor, the Patria NEMO is likely to win this contract.
• The Korsak programme, successor of the Fennek reconnaissance vehicle saw the Pandur Evo as a potential successor. In 2024, a variant of the Piranha IV replaced the Pandur Evo offer from the GDELS group. And the Piranha is likely to win the contract.^[38]

See also

Related designs

• Pandur II

Comparable 6x6 systems

• – (Spain)

Notes

1. ^ ES&T editorial team (2024-02-21). "The Austrian Armed Forces will receive another 225 Pandur EVOs". esut.de. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
2. ^ GmbH, Typoheads. "Mannschaftstransportpanzer "Pandur Evolution"" (in German). www.bundesheer.at. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
3. ^ admin (2024-02-20). "Elbit Systems Awarded $300 Million Contract To Supply Armored Vehicle Systems To Austrian Army - MilitaryLeak.COM". militaryleak.com. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
4. ^ Felstead, Peter (2024-05-08). "Elbit Systems to supply Crossbow Unmanned Turreted 120 mm mortar systems for a European Pandur 6×6 user - European Security & Defence". euro-sd.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
5. ^ "FMS 2024: Austria confirmed as first Crossbow turreted mortar customer". Default. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
6. ^ "Flakpanzer Skyranger – Österreich wird Erstkunde" (in de-DE). 2024-02-23. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
7. ^ "Rheinmetall". Rheinmetall. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
8. ^ Doppeladler (2024-02-19). "Vertrag für 225 PANDUR Evolution unterzeichnet | DOPPELADLER.COM" (in de-DE). Retrieved 2024-05-14.
9. ^ "9. KSK-Symposium Rüstung: GDELS zeigt Spezialkräfte-Variante des Pandur Evolution" (in de-DE). 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
10. ^ "GDLS stellt neue Flugabwehrvariante des Pandur Evolution vor" (in German). 2025-03-21. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
11. ^ "Neue Radpanzer für das Österreichische Bundesheer" (in de-DE). milnews. 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
12. ^ "Sanitätspanzer "Pandur"" (in German). bundesheer.at. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
13. ^ "Der neue Sanitätspanzer Pandur". BMLV.gv.at
14. ^ "Landmobilität und Fahrzeugbeschaffungen" (in de-DE). Truppendienst. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
15. ^ "Gabon buys one Pandur". – via ResearchGate.
16. ^ "Pandur 6×6 Wheeled Armoured Vehicles". Army Technology.
17. ^ "Gabon parades Norinco VP11 MRAPs". janes.com. 2022-08-24. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
18. ^ "LKOV Valuk: the Slovenian 'relative' of the Spanish BMR delivered to the Ukrainian Army". Counting Stars. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
19. ^ "Slovenski Valuki na ukrajinsko fronto" (in Slovene). 24ur.com. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
20. ^ "Pandur 6x6 Wheeled Armoured Vehicles". Army Technology. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
21. ^ Felstead, Peter (2024-02-19). "Austrian MoD orders 225 more Pandur 6×6 Evo armoured vehicles - European Security & Defence". euro-sd.com. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
22. ^ "Mehr Budget fürs Bundesheer". BMLV.gv.at
23. ^ GmbH, Typoheads (2024-02-19). "Bundesheer beschafft 225 neue Radpanzer" (in German). www.bundesheer.at. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
24. ^ "Austria buys additional Pandur EVO armored personnel carriers and Skyranger 30 anti-aircraft systems". ВПК.name. 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
25. ^ admin (2024-02-20). "Elbit Systems Awarded $300 Million Contract To Supply Armored Vehicle Systems To Austrian Army - MilitaryLeak.COM". militaryleak.com. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
26. ^ Felstead, Peter (2024-05-08). "Elbit Systems to supply Crossbow Unmanned Turreted 120 mm mortar systems for a European Pandur 6×6 user - European Security & Defence". euro-sd.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
27. ^ Höller, Linus (2024-02-26). "Austrian Pandur vehicles to schlep slimmed Skyranger air defense gun". Defense News. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
28. ^ Doppeladler (2024-02-19). "Vertrag für 225 PANDUR Evolution unterzeichnet | DOPPELADLER.COM" (in de-DE). Retrieved 2024-05-14.
29. ^ Doppeladler (2024-02-19). "Vertrag für 225 PANDUR Evolution unterzeichnet | DOPPELADLER.COM" (in de-DE). Retrieved 2024-05-14.
30. ^ Doppeladler (2024-02-19). "Vertrag für 225 PANDUR Evolution unterzeichnet | DOPPELADLER.COM" (in de-DE). Retrieved 2024-05-14.
31. ^ Doppeladler (2024-02-19). "Vertrag für 225 PANDUR Evolution unterzeichnet | DOPPELADLER.COM" (in de-DE). Retrieved 2024-05-14.
32. ^ Doppeladler (2024-02-19). "Vertrag für 225 PANDUR Evolution unterzeichnet | DOPPELADLER.COM" (in de-DE). Retrieved 2024-05-14.
33. ^ redaktion, spartanat (2022-06-27). "Nun auch Panduren für die US Army" (in de-DE). SPARTANAT. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
34. ^ Defensa.com (2025-04-26). "Los vehículos 6x6 de GDELS que podrían fabricarse en España - Noticias Defensa España" (in Spanish). Defensa.com. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
35. ^ "Germany and Sweden take next steps in the joint armoured vehicle CAVS programme". Patria. 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
36. ^ sam (2025-01-09). "Germany invites Patria to tender for 300 CAVS -". Retrieved 2025-01-10.
37. ^ "Heer sieht Bedarf für NEMO-Mörser auf 6x6-Radplattform" (in de-DE). soldat-und-technik.de. 2023-06-22. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
38. ^ LinnemannRedakteur, Navid (2024-10-11). "Neues Spähfahrzeug "Korsak" auf Basis des Piranha 6x6" (in German). Retrieved 2025-01-10.

External links

• Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH
• Images of Pandur in service with the Austrian Army