Czechs Choose, Cancel, Then Come Back to Pandur II APCs
May 22, 2011 10:41 EDT
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Pandurs in Afghanistan; IAI provides RCWS-30 components. (May 18/11)
In January 2006, the Czech Republic selected General Dynamics’ European Land Combat Systems subsidiary Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH of Austria to supply its army with 199 new eight-wheeled Pandur II armored personnel carriers (APCs) between 2007-2012. The KBVP vehicles would replace Soviet-era OT-64 SKOT APCs, and would be produced in Austria and the Czech Republic.
In 2005 the contract included an option for 35 additional vehicles for a total of 234, and had a potential value of Koruna 23.6 billion ($1-1.4 billion). Steyr’s Pandur II was a finalist, and eventually won the competition. But questions arose, the deal became a political football, and delivery issues jeopardized the deal into oblivion. Or so it seemed. Despite the economic crisis gripping Eastern Europe, the Czechs reinstated a scaled-down version of the deal in late February 2009.
- Selection and a Winner
- Pandur II Industrial Arrangements
- Contracts & Updates [updated]
- Additional Readings [updated]
Stay on top of developments with the Czech Republic's procurement of armored personnel carriers when you subscribe to DII. Our cross-linked article network and reference materials include:
- Background on initial bidders, early eliminations including Czech firm Globtrade Air, and the eventual cancellation of the contract with General Dynamics' European Land Combat Systems subsidiary Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug (based in Austria)
- Insider quotes: "I am simply convinced that the Czech Army cannot make good use of those 199 carriers. What we need is six-wheelers, armoured four-wheelers and a number of different types of vehicles. Buying 199 eight-wheeled vehicles was just wrong."
- Specifications of the near winner Steyr's Pandur II, and other contenders
- Additional articles from the DII library including: "Czechs Issue APC Bidders Shortlist, Exclude Czech Firm," "Czech APC Competition Narrows to 2Ö," "Czech APCs to Carry RAFAEL's RCWS-30," "U.S. Extends SDD Phase of Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle," "Czechs Formalize Gun Contract for New APCs," and more
- 7 photos
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