INDIANAPOLIS / BERLIN — Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. has secured a major supply agreement to provide fully automatic transmissions for approximately 3,000 EAGLE V armored vehicles ordered by Germany's Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). The vehicles will be manufactured by General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027.
The transmission contract supports one of Germany's largest protected vehicle procurement programs in recent years. The agreement between the Bundeswehr and GDELS also includes an option for up to 2,000 additional vehicles, bringing the total framework to 5,000 EAGLE V vehicles. According to GDELS, the framework agreements are valued at approximately 4 billion euros, with nearly 3,000 vehicles ordered immediately.
Two EAGLE V Variants Included
The initial procurement covers two specialized variants of the EAGLE V platform:
- EAGLE V 4×4 command-and-control vehicles
- EAGLE V 6×6 medium protected ambulance vehicles
Deliveries of both variants are expected to begin in 2027.
Allison 2500 SP Selected for Entire Fleet
Under the agreement, Allison's 2500 Specialty Series (SP) fully automatic transmission will remain the exclusive transmission option for all EAGLE vehicle variants.
The SP Series is designed for demanding defense applications, providing power transfer to the wheels and vehicle control in difficult terrain. The transmission is widely used in defense, national security, and emergency-service vehicles.
Transmission units will be delivered to GDELS production lines through Sterki AG, Allison Transmission's authorized dealer and distributor in Switzerland.
GDELS Expands Manufacturing in Germany
To support production of the expanded EAGLE V fleet, GDELS is establishing and expanding manufacturing capacity across Germany.
Series production will involve facilities located in:
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Baden-Württemberg
- Bavaria
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
The expanded production network is intended to support deliveries beginning in 2027.
Long-Standing Partnership Between Allison and GDELS
The latest order extends a partnership between Allison Transmission and GDELS that has supported the EAGLE vehicle family for more than two decades.
Since production of the EAGLE IV began in 2005, every EAGLE model has been equipped with Allison's 2500 SP transmission as standard equipment.
Bundeswehr Expanding EAGLE Fleet
The German Armed Forces already have significant experience operating the EAGLE platform.
According to Allison Transmission:
- About 670 EAGLE IV and EAGLE V vehicles have been procured by the Bundeswehr since 2008.
- Germany also ordered 80 EAGLE V 6×6 protected ambulance vehicles, with deliveries for that contract beginning in May 2025.
The latest procurement will substantially increase the number of EAGLE vehicles in Bundeswehr service.
Vehicle Roles
The two EAGLE V variants are designed for different operational missions.
EAGLE V 4×4 Command-and-Control Vehicle
The EAGLE V 4×4 serves as a mobile command center, supporting tactical coordination through integrated communication and command systems.
EAGLE V 6×6 Protected Ambulance
The EAGLE V 6×6 is configured as a protected ambulance, capable of transporting rescue teams and operating as a mobile medical unit when staffed with emergency physicians.
GDELS describes the EAGLE V as one of the advanced protected multi-purpose vehicles in its class.
Framework Agreements Announced in 2025
In December 2025, GDELS announced that Germany's Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) had awarded the company two framework agreements covering:
- EAGLE V 4×4 command-and-control vehicles
- EAGLE V 6×6 medium protected ambulance vehicles
The framework agreements cover up to 5,000 vehicles, with nearly 3,000 ordered immediately at a value of about 4 billion euros.
Allison Highlights Operational Reliability
Commenting on the agreement, Taner Gider, Executive Director of EMEA Sales at Allison Transmission, said:
"Allison is honored that GDELS entrusts the reliability and performance of our transmissions. This performance is backed by Allison's global support network that delivers the specialized expertise and response capabilities necessary to maintain operational readiness when every second counts."
Gider added that Allison's decades of experience in defense applications, supported by its manufacturing and engineering capabilities, have made the company a preferred choice in the industry.
The new supply agreement further strengthens Allison Transmission's role in the EAGLE vehicle program as GDELS prepares to begin deliveries of the expanded EAGLE V fleet to the Bundeswehr in 2027. The procurement is part of Germany's framework agreement for up to 5,000 EAGLE V vehicles, aimed at expanding the Bundeswehr's fleet of protected command-and-control and medical support vehicles.
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