The Piranha family of the European defense company General Dynamics European Landsystems (GDELS) has grown. The company today publicly unveiled the Piranha Heavy Mission Carrier (HMC).
With an additional fifth axis, the Piranha HMC becomes the most stable member of the family. The permissible total weight increases to 40 tons. A payload of 17 tons is possible. According to GDELS, the vehicle features the most advanced powertrain and suspension technology, such as the 10×10 four-wheel drivetrain and the unique multi-link suspension system. The first and second as well as the fourth and fifth axles are steered. The design ensures minimal axle loads (calculated eight tons per axle) in accordance with European road traffic law, outstanding off-road mobility and ability to cross ditches, as well as a turning circle reduced to less than 18 meters.
The 10×10 Piranha HMC is designed to meet the increasing need for highly mobile platforms for increasingly demanding mission profiles and meets the urgent military mobility requirements of NATO and international customers.
“The Piranha HMC is a direct response to the payload and volume needs of our global customer base for versatile and flexible missions such as direct and indirect fire, anti-aircraft and tactical bridge-laying capabilities,” said Dr. Thomas Kauffmann, GDELS Vice President for Global Sales & Services.
“This unique platform is the result of our continued pursuit of innovative vehicle and drive technologies, together with 40 years of excellence and experience as a world-class vehicle manufacturer,” adds Giuseppe Chillari, GDELS Vice President Wheeled Vehicles & Managing Director GDELS-Mowag.
GDELS praises the Piranha vehicle family as the most successful wheeled tank in the Western world. It is in use with more than 12,000 vehicles in over 20 nations. In addition to the common 8×8, versions with the drive formulas 4×4, 6×6 and 10×10 as well as amphibious variants are also in use.
Editorial staff / gwh
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