The Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) has taken delivery of the first Piranha wheeled armoured vehicle from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS).
The Piranha was selected by DALO for its armoured personnel carrier (APC) replacement programme in 2015.
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GDELS was contracted to deliver 309 Piranha APCs in command, infantry, ambulance, engineer, mortar and repair variants.
The first seven pre-series vehicles, which were built in the infantry vehicle configuration, will now undergo a comprehensive test programme.
Expected to begin later in 2017, the test programme includes climate acceptance tests in hot and cold conditions and a verification acceptance trial.
The programme will be concluded with the user acceptance test by the end of this year, with deliveries commencing in 2018.
DALO has also signed a multi-year sustainment contract, under which through-life support will be provided for the vehicles.
The Piranha offers direct fire capabilities and turrets with calibres up to 120mm.
Designed to provide mine, improvised explosive device (IED) and ballistic protection, Piranha has a full coverage, modular survivability system.
The vehicle's high-output power pack, fourth-axle steering, integrated driver support systems and McPherson strut suspension enhances its cross-country mobility, according to GDELS.
Image: The first seven pre-series vehicles are built in the infantry vehicle configuration. Photo: courtesy of General Dynamics European Land Systems.
