Austria Orders 225 Pandur EVO from General Dynamics European Land Systems
Defense News ,Europe :- General Dynamics European Land Systems - Steyr (GDELS) is set to provide an extra 225 Pandur 6x6 EVO wheeled armored vehicles to the Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer).
The contract for this delivery was signed on February 19, with Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Minister of Defence Klaudia Tanner in attendance. The order includes state-of-the-art personnel carriers and versatile conversion kits for medical, command & control, and anti-tank missions. Additionally, eight new vehicle variants will be introduced to the Austrian Armed Forces as part of the procurement under Austria’s “Development Plan 2032,” focusing on the comprehensive modernization of the Armed Forces.
The Pandur 6×6 EVO vehicle family will now include a 120mm mortar combat system, along with mobile air defense and electronic warfare variants.
These new vehicles will significantly enhance the Austrian Army’s medium infantry forces, providing increased mobility, protection, and effectiveness.
Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner highlighted the significance of this acquisition, stating, “The procurement of 225 additional Pandur Evolution in different variants is the largest acquisition by the Austrian Army in 20 years. With an investment volume of 1.8 billion euros, we are not only investing in the security of Austria but also in Austria as a business location. With 70% value creation in Austria, the domestic Pandur production secures and creates jobs at over 220 companies.”
Already under contract, 100 Pandur EVO vehicles are in production and delivery, with the third batch currently underway. The recently commissioned fourth batch will seamlessly follow, supporting further investments and creating new highly qualified jobs at the production site in Vienna.
Martin Reischer, managing director of GDELS-Steyr, emphasized the contribution to Austria's protected mobility, saying, “Since the acquisition of the first batch in 2016, we have persistently been creating and fortifying high added-value for Austria by including more than 220 Austrian subcontractors. The new fourth batch of 225 Pandur EVO further contributes to the protected mobility of the Austrian Armed Forces and allows us and our suppliers to hire additional skilled labor and to further invest in our industrial facilities in Austria.”
GDELS President Antonio Bueno expressed pride in the partnership, stating, “Today’s procurement decision marks an extraordinary milestone in the history of our Pandur and underlines the globally unique performance and multi-role capability of this wheeled armored vehicle family. Since the very beginning, Austria has been one of GDELS’ home countries. Consequently, we are fully dedicated and proud to continuing our proven, trusted partnership by providing the Austrian Armed Forces with enhanced military mobility, while at the same time contributing to sustainable macroeconomic added-value together with our many industry partners.”
The Pandur EVO 6×6, known for its compact design and high performance, is manufactured at GDELS’ Steyr facility in Vienna Simmering, the national center of excellence for wheeled and tracked protected military mobility. Versions of the Pandur EVO have been in service with the Austrian Armed Forces since 1996, with approximately 850 Pandur vehicles in 6×6 and 8×8 configurations deployed globally, serving countries such as Belgium, the Czech Republic, Kuwait, Portugal, Slovenia, and the USA.
