General Dynamics awarded $165m for 195 additional EAGLE vehicles for Germany

General Dynamics European Land Systems entered a USD $165 million contract with the German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (Bundesamt fur Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung, "BWB") on December 20 for the delivery of 195 highly protected EAGLE vehicles. The new order is in addition to orders awarded between 2008 and 2010, and increases the German EAGLE fleet to a total of 473 vehicles. General Dynamics European Land Systems, based in Vienna, Austria, is a business unit of General Dynamics.

All vehicles for the German Federal Defense Force will be jointly manufactured by General Dynamics European Land Systems-Mowag in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, and General Dynamics European Land Systems-Germany in Kaiserslautern. Numerous other German suppliers will be engaged in the manufacture and supply of many key components.

The EAGLE vehicle was selected in 2008 following 2 years of intensive evaluation within the framework of the public procurement of protected Class 2 Command and Function vehicles. This vehicle replaces a large number of existing unprotected and lightly protected Federal Defense Force vehicles on foreign missions. Due to its high protection level, deployability, agility and tactical mobility, the EAGLE is suitable for the entire mission spectrum in this class of vehicles. The EAGLE can be used for various missions by applying modular add-on kits.

The first contract, for the delivery of 198 EAGLE vehicles, was signed by the BWB and General Dynamics in November 2008. By May 2009, the first vehicles were delivered and deployed to Afghanistan, where they have demonstrated their outstanding reliability and high availability. Deliveries of the initial 198 vehicles was completed in September 2010, three months ahead of the contractual delivery schedule.

The urgent need for highly protected vehicles in the Federal Defense Force led to another order of 20 EAGLE BAT ambulance vehicles in November 2009 plus an order of an additional 60 EAGLE patrol vehicles for the German Federal Police in mid-April 2010. The current order for an additional 195 vehicles will ensure the continuous supply of urgently needed protected Command and Function vehicles over the coming years. Those vehicles are scheduled to be manufactured and delivered within 2011 and 2012.

These orders reflect the strong relationship with the BWB and the Federal Defense Force as a key customer for General Dynamics European Land Systems and underline the international success of the highly protected EAGLE.

The EAGLE sets the standard for protected wheeled vehicles in the weight class of up to 9.5 tonnes. The vehicle has a length of 5.40 m, a height of 2.4 m and a width of 2.16 m. It reaches a top speed of 110 km/h on the road and manages gradients of up to 60%. The 245 hp turbocharged diesel engine, in connection with a 5-speed automatic transmission, the unique DeDion axle system with a patented roll stabilizer, tire-pressure control system and the permanent all-wheel drive give the EAGLE superior on-road and off-road mobility. Thanks to the modular protection system, the EAGLE offers a very high level of protection against ballistic threats, mines, and IEDs. The vehicle also is equipped with an NBC overpressure system.

Source: General Dynamics

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