Mowag Piranha

Infobox Weapon
name=Mowag Piranha


caption=Irish Army Mowag Piranha IIIH (armed with 12.7 mm HMG), on the streets of Dublin for the 2006 Easter Military Parade.
origin= Switzerland
type=Armoured wheeled vehicle
is_vehicle=yes
crew=
length=6.25 to 7.45 m [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/piranha.htm FAS.org - Piranha overview - Stats] ]
width=2.5 to 2.66 m
height=1.8 to 1.98 m
weight=From 9,500 kg
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
suspension=
speed=100 km/h [http://www.army-technology.com/projects/piranha/specs.html Army-Technology.com - Specifications - Piranha III / LAV III Wheeled Armoured Vehicles] ]
pw_ratio=
vehicle_range=The Mowag Piranha is a family of armoured fighting vehicles designed and manufactured by the Swiss Mowag corporation (now part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems). Four generations of vehicles have been produced, and variants include the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) in service with many militaries.

Design and development

Variants

It is available in 4x4, 6x6, 8x8, and 10x10 wheel versions. There are several variants within these versions, giving different degrees of armour protection and several kinds of turrets, for use in a variety of roles. Piranha derivatives have been assigned roles as troop transports, command vehicles, fire support vehicles, tank trainers, and police vehicles.

Piranhas are used by the Swiss Army. Swiss-built Piranha derivatives have been exported to Sweden, Denmark, Ireland and Spain. Piranha derivatives have been manufactured under licence by General Dynamics (Canada), BAE Systems Land Systems (UK), Komatsu (Japan), Cardoen and FAMAE (Chile), and in the USA.

The Belgian Army has selected the Piranha IIIC 8x8. It has decided to convert to all wheeled vehicles, simultaneously removing the current main battle tank, the Leopard 1, from the inventory. The Piranha is modern and armoured, but lacks the protection, firepower and mobility of a conventional tracked tank. In total 242 vehicles will be delivered, of which 104 optional.

The 8x8 US Army Stryker vehicle is derived from the Canadian LAV III which in turn is based on the Piranha, as is the LAV 25 family in service with the USMC. The Australian Defence Force also has its own modified version of the Piranha known as the ASLAV (Australian Light Armoured Vehicle). The ASLAV is operated by two cavalry regiments (the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment) and is used in the armoured reconnaissance and armoured personnel carrier roles.

Some variants, like the United States Marine Corps's Light Armored Vehicle-25 (LAV 25) and its derivatives, are equipped with propellers for amphibious use, though their abilities are limited to sheltered waters.

A new Piranha V version, weighing in between 25 to 30 tons, was announced as the provisional winner of the British Army's FRES program on the 8th May 2008. [cite web
publisher=United Kingdom Ministry of Defense
url= http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/DraysonNewVehiclesWillHavevitalPartToPlayInTheArmyOfTheFuture.htm
title=Drayson: New vehicles will have "vital part to play in the Army of the future"
date=June 8, 2007
accessdate=July 4
accessyear=2007]

Family tree

* Piranha I
**AVGP
**LAV
***ASLAV
***Coyote
***LAV A2
* Piranha II
**Bison
**Desert Piranha
**LAV II
* Piranha III
**LAV III
***Stryker
***NZLAV
**Piranha IIIC
**Piranha IIIH
*Piranha IV
*Piranha V

Operators

*flagicon|Australia Australian Army
*flagicon|Belgium Belgian Army
*BOT - 50 Piranha IIIs
*flagicon|Brazil Brazilian Marine Corps
*flagicon|Canada Canadian Army
*flagicon|Chile Chilean Army
*flagicon|Chile Chilean Marine Corps [Chilean built 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 in different configurations for the Chilean Army.]
*flagicon|Denmark Danish Army
*flagicon|Ghana Ghana Army [ [http://www.gaf.mil.gh/index.php?CatId=78&CategoryId=57&page=1 Ghana Armed Forces ] ]
*flagicon|Ireland Irish Army
*flagicon|New Zealand New Zealand Army
*flagicon|Oman Royal Army of Oman
*flagicon|Qatar Qatar Army
*flagicon|Romania Romanian Land Forces
*flagicon|Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian Army
*flagicon|Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian National Guard
*flagicon|Spain Spanish Navy Marines
*flagicon|Sweden Swedish Army
*flagicon|Switzerland Swiss Army
*flagicon|USA United States Army
*flagicon|USA United States Marine Corps
*flagicon|Turkey Turkish Army

Gallery

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.mowag.ch/ www.mowag.ch] - including [http://www.mowag.ch/En/02_ProdukteEn/PIRANHAEn/02-02_Frameset.htm PIRANHA concept]
* [http://www.army-technology.com/projects/piranha/ Army-Technology.com - Piranha]
* [http://www.swissmotor.ch/artikel/051_099/0091.htm Swissmotor.ch - Neue Radpanzergeneration bei MOWAG - Der PIRANHA III]
* [http://www.soldf.com/piranhaiii_asv.html Soldf.com - Piranha III 10x10 Armoured Sensor Vehicle]
* [http://danskpanser.dk/Hjulkoretojer/PiranhaIIIC.htm DanskPanser.dk - Danish Piranha IIIC]
* [http://danskpanser.dk/Hjulkoretojer/PiranhaIIIH.htm DanskPanser.dk - Danish Piranha IIIH]