Mowag Piranha

Mowag Piranha P
Type - Armoured fighting vehicle
Place of origin - Switzerland
Production history
Designer - Mowag Motor Car Factory, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland
Manufacturer - Mowag
Produced - 1972-present
Variants - Tank Destroyer, Command Vehicle (C3), Medevac, APC, Police Vehicle, Pioneer & Construction Vehicle
Specifications
Mass - From 9,300 kg (20,500 lb)
Length - 6.25 to 7.45 m
Width - 2.5 to 2.66 m
Height - 1.8 to 1.98 m
Crew - 3+5: driver, commander, gunner + 5 passengers
Armor - quick-mount selection, including defense against RPG, IED, NBC
Main armament - 1 × 12.7 mm MG turret, or Mowag apex mount, grenade launcher, or TOW anti-tank missile
Engine - diesel engine (202 kW / 275 hp)
Transmission - Allison MT-653 automatic 6-speed planetary gearbox
Suspension - hydropneumatic 6×6, 8×8, or 10x10 wheeled, tyres 13.00 × 20 run-flat (insert)
Fuel capacity - 300 l
Operational range - 780 km (485 mi)
Maximum speed - 100 km/h (62 mph), water 10 km/h (6 mph)
Steering system - 1 and 2 axle

Mowag Piranha IB 4×4
Type - Armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin - Switzerland
Production history
Designer - Mowag Motor Car Factory, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland
Manufacturer - Mowag
Produced - 1974-present
Variants - БРМ...
Specifications
Mass - 6,300 kg (13,900 lb)
Length - 5.40 m
Width - 2.5 m
Height - 1.85 m
Crew - 7: driver, commander, gunner + 4 more people
Main armament - 1× 12.7 mm MG in the turret or Wildcat AAA with 2×30 mm gun, or TSE 5000 Crotale, or ADATS, or Rheinmetall 105 mm Cannon
Engine - Chrysler V8 gasoline engine 360-1 Displacement 6,780 cm³ (125 kW)
Transmission - NP 540 Chrysler mechanics transmission, 5 forward gears, 1 reverse gear
Suspension - 4×4 wheeled, tyres 13.00 × 20 run-flat (insert)
Fuel capacity - 200 l
Operational range - 700 km (41l/100 km)
Maximum speed - 100 km/h (62 mph), water 10 km/h (6 mph)
Steering system - 1 axle

Mowag Piranha IB 6×6
Type - Armoured fighting vehicle
Place of origin - Switzerland
Service history
Used by - Switzerland, Canada, United Nations
Production history
Designer - Mowag Motor Car Factory, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland
Manufacturer - Mowag
Produced - 1972-present
Variants - Tank Destroyer, Command Vehicle (C3), Medevac, APC, Police Vehicle
Specifications
Mass - 9,300 kg (20,500 lb)
Length - 6.25 m
Width - 2.66 m
Height - 1.985 m / 2.17 m
Crew - 7: driver, commander, gunner + 4 more people
Main armament - 1× 12.7 mm MG turret or Mowag apex mount, or grenade launcher, TOW anti-tank missile, or Mephisto ATM
Engine - Chrysler V8 petrol engine HT 413 Displacement 6,780 cm³ (147 kW)
Transmission - Allison MT-40 Automatic 6-speed planetary gearbox
Suspension - 6×6 wheeled, tyres 13.00 × 20 run-flat (insert)
Fuel capacity - 200 l
Operational range - 500 km (41l/100 km)
Maximum speed - 100 km/h (62 mph), water 10 km/h (6 mph)
Steering system - 1 axle or 1 and 2 axle

Mowag Piranha IIIC 10x10
Type - Armoured car
Place of origin - Switzerland
Service history
Used by - Sweden
Production history
Designer - Mowag Motor Car Factory, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland
Manufacturer - Mowag
Produced - 1994
Variants - Tank Destroyer, Command Vehicle (C3)
Specifications
Mass - 18,000 kg (40,000 lb)
Length - 7.45 m
Width - 2.66 m
Height - 1.98 m / 2.17 m
Crew - 3: driver, commander, gunner
Main armament - turret Oerlikon GDD BOE with 35 mm automatic cannon KDE
Secondary armament - 7.62 mm coaxial MG FN MAG and 6 × Nebelwurfbecher 76 mm
Engine - Detroit Diesel V6, V6 53TA (350 hp)
Transmission - Allison MD 3560 P-automatic transmission, 6 forward gears, 1 reverse
Suspension - 10×10 wheeled, tyres 13.00 × 20 run-flat (insert)
Maximum speed - 100 km/h (62 mph)
Steering system - 1 and 2 axle

Piranha IV
Place of origin - Switzerland
Specifications
Mass - 25 t
Length - 7.24 m (285 in)
Width - 2.8 m (110 in)
Crew - 3 (+ 6 or 7 passengers)
Main armament - 30 mm cannon in a two-person General Dynamics Land Systems turret
Engine - diesel MTU
Suspension - Hydropneumatic
Operational range - 750 km
Maximum speed - 100 km/h

Piranha V
Type - Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Place of origin -  Switzerland
Service history
Used by -  Denmark / Monaco / Spain / Romania
Production history
Designer - Mowag Motor Car Factory, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland
Manufacturer - Mowag / ROMARM
Specifications
Mass - 33 t (73,000 lb)
Length - 8 m (26 ft)
Width - 2.99 m (9.8 ft)
Height - 2.34 m (7.7 ft)
Crew - 3 (+ 8 passengers)
Armor - 14.5 mm AP resistant / Maximum Add-on (25 mm AP resistant)
Main armament - 1× 12.7 mm MG turret or Mowag apex mount, or 40 mm grenade launcher, or 30 mm autocannon TOW anti-tank missile, or 120 mm mortar
Engine - MTU 6V199 TE21 or Scania DC13 / 430-480 kW (577-644 hp)
Power/weight - 15 kW/t
Transmission - ZF 7HP902S or SAPA SW624
Suspension - Hydropneumatic 8×8 wheeled
Operational range - 1,000 km (620 mi)
Maximum speed - 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph), water 10 km/h (6 mph)

The Mowag Piranha is a family of armoured fighting vehicles designed by the Swiss company Mowag (since 2010 General Dynamics European Land Systems - Mowag GmbH).
Five generations of vehicles have been produced, manufactured by Mowag or under licence by other companies (notably the LAV), and variants are in service with military forces throughout the world.
Variants
Piranhas are available in 4×4, 6×6, 8×8, and 10×10 wheel versions. There are several variants within these versions, giving different degrees of armour protection and several kinds of turret, 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 Ireland, Romania, Spain, and Belgium. The Romanian and Belgian armies have selected the Piranha IIIC 8×8. Belgium converted to an all-wheeled force, and replaced all their M113s, AIFVs and Leopard 1s with 268 Piranha IIIC in 7 variants.
Piranha derivatives have been manufactured under license by General Dynamics (Canada), BAE Systems Land Systems (UK), Cardoen and FAMAE (Chile), and in the USA.
A new Piranha V version, weighing in between 25 and 30 tons, was announced as the provisional winner of the British Army's FRES program on 8 May 2008, but this selection was reversed seven months later and bidding started again.
General Dynamics European Land Systems launched their new Piranha Class 5 at EUROSATORY 2010 on 15 June and it was reported that the British MoD were showing renewed interest, but struggling with budget constraints.
Mowag Piranha IB 4×4
The Mowag Piranha IB 4×4 was an armored personnel carrier.
To complete the Piranha I Family of 1974, the Piranha IB 4×4 was designed as a light rapid reconnaissance and attack vehicle. It could take part in amphibious operations thanks to twin propellers and could operate in NBC-contaminated areas. The Piranha 4×4 was also designed to meet police needs. The Mowag Grenadier and Mowag Spy sub-versions were also developed. The prototype of the Piranha IB 4×4 went through numerous tests and received different equipment and different engines. Due to rapid technological development and adjustments to requirements for military vehicles, no Piranha with gasoline engine was sold. The prototype is now in the Full Military Museum.
Mowag Piranha IB 6×6
The first Piranha prototype ever built was the IB 6×6 in 1972. It can be seen as a milestone for the Piranha series due to various technical innovation like (at the time) modern designed drive with independent suspension, compact power unit in the right front and (as an amphibian drive) being powered by two propellers. This prototype was demonstrated with different engines and features for potential customers such as the Canadian Army who locally produced them as the AVGP. Switzerland sold a license to manufacture this machine to Chile in 1983. In the Swiss Army, the Piranha 6×6 is used as an ambulance, command vehicle (C3) and, together with the BGM-71 TOW, as a Tank Destroyer. The prototype is along with an ambulance Piranha 6×6 on display in the Full Military Museum.
Mowag Piranha IIIC 10×10
With the continuous evolution of the Piranha family due to increasing demands, and the projected development of the Mowag Shark as a heavy weapons carrier, the Piranha design reached the limit of its payload capacity. The Piranha 10×10 (built in 1994), was an attempt to expand the payload, using a 5th axle of the same type as used in the smaller Piranha models. The Piranha 10×10 was designed as a heavy weapons carrier, but only a small number were built for Sweden as the LIRKA command tank and Kapris radar carrier. The Piranha IIIC 10×10 marked an important development from the Piranha IIIC 8×8. The Piranha IIIC 10×10 prototype was used in various tests, including in Sweden, and now stands in the Schweizerisches Militärmuseum Full.
Mowag Piranha IV
The Piranha IV is the fourth member of the Piranha family of armoured vehicles and is being developed as a private venture by the Swiss Mowag corporation (since 2003 part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems).
BAE Systems Land Systems Weapons & Vehicles has also acquired a production licence.
Mowag Piranha V
The Piranha V Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) is one variant of the fifth generation of the Mowag Piranha family of vehicles. It was designed by General Dynamics European Land Systems - Mowag GmbH.
While the Piranha V is available with a MTU 6V199 TE21 diesel engine producing 430 kW, both Denmark and Spain have opted for a different Powerpack built by the Spanish company SAPA, consisting of a Scania Diesel engine with 480 kW coupled with the SW 624 automatic transmission, and an auxiliary power unit with 75 kW.
Standard armour (STANAG 4569, Level 4/4b) offers all-round 14.5 mm AP protection and 20 mm - 23 mm AP on front. Can offer full protection for the crew if a 10 kg explosive AT mine explodes under the hull. Add-ons can offer all-round protection to 25 mm AP rounds and level 5 STANAG 4569.

Family tree

1) Piranha I
 - AVGP
2) Piranha II
 - LAV II
  - LAV-25
  - Bison and Coyote
  - ASLAV
 - Desert Piranha
3) Piranha III
 - Piranha IIIH
  - LAV III
  - NZLAV
   - LAV 6
 - Piranha IIIC
4) Piranha IV
5) Piranha V

Operators

Piranha I
Chile Chilean army - 250 Piraña I 6×6 and 25 Piraña I 8×8.
Ghana Ghana Army - 63 Piranha I 4×4,6×6 and 8×8.
Nigeria Nigerian Army - 110 delivered in the 1980s.
Islamic State Boko Haram - at least 2, captured from the Nigerian army.
Switzerland Swiss Army - 310 Piranha TOW, including 40 transformed into ambulance (Armament Program 2005, delivered in 2006-2007) and 160 converted in command vhc with M153 Protector (Armament Program 2006, delivered in 2008-2010).
Piranha II
Oman Royal Army of Oman - 174 Piranha II in 7 versions.
Qatar Qatar Armed Forces - 40 Piranha II 8×8 built under licence by former British firm Alvis PLC. (36 CCTS-90 tank hunter with a Belgian Cockerill 90 mm gun and 4 ARVs-recovery). Used during the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian National Guard - 1,117 LAV/Piranha II in 10 versions; another 132 ordered.
Sweden Swedish Army - 44 Piranha II 10×10 including 27 Armoured Sensor Vehicle and 17 Armoured Command Vehicle (7.62 mm machine gun) and 10 Piranha II 8×8 Armoured Escort Vehicle ordered in 1997.
Switzerland Swiss Army - over 500 Piranha IIC (APC93 8×8), including command version (Kdo Pz 93+).
Switzerland Geneva Cantonal police - 1 Piranha IIC used by the tactical unit, BI (Brigade d'Intervention).
Piranha III
Belgium Belgian Army - 138 Piranha IIIC 8×8 in 7 versions, introduced in 2008: 64 Piranha FUSELIER (APC), 19 Piranha DF30, 18 Piranha DF90, 14 command vehicles, 6 Ambulances, 9 ARV and 8 Piranha Genie.
Botswana Botswana Defence Force - 45 Piranha IIIC.
Brazil Brazilian Marine Corps - 30 Piranha IIIC in 3 versions.
Denmark Danish Army - 18 Piranha IIIH, and 115 Piranha IIIC; all fitted with the Lemur 12.7 mm OHW.
Republic of Ireland Irish Army - 91 Piranha IIIH in 6 versions.
Romania Romanian Land Forces - 43 Piranha IIIC.
Ukraine Ukrainian Army - 25 Piranha IIIC. Switzerland has refused a Danish request to transfer 22 Piranha IIIs to Ukraine.
Spain Spanish Navy Marines - 39 Piranha IIIC in 3 versions.
Sweden Swedish Army - 33 Piranha IIIC.
Switzerland Swiss Army - 60 Piranha IIIC, including 12 NBC detection vehicles (vhc expl ABC / ABC Aufkl Fz).
Piranha V
Denmark Danish Army - In the process of acquiring 309 units. The first were delivered in May 2017, with all expected to be in use by 2023.
Monaco Monégasque Carabiniers - Two Piranha V units.
Romania Romanian Land Forces - The first batch of 36 vehicles, produced at GDELS-Mowag's facilities in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, they entered the endowment of the Romanian Land Forces in October 2020 at the 26th Infantry Battalion, also known as the Red Scorpions, based in Craiova, Romania. Another 191 units will be produced in Romania, at Bucharest Mechanical Factory.
Spain Spanish Army - Five units were acquired in 2015 as prototypes for the VBMR program.
Spain Spanish Navy Marines - An undetermined number of Piranha V with 120 mm guns will replace the M60A3 in service.
Former operators
Canada Canadian Army - 491 AVGP.
Liberia Armed Forces of Liberia - 10 Piranha I 4×4. Saw service during the Second Liberian Civil War.
Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Army - about 10 Piranha I 6×6.

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