PIRANHA 3+, a new generation, armoured, wheeled vehicle of the PIRANHA family, was unveiled at the EUROSATORY Land and Airland Defence and Security international exhibition held in Paris, France, in June 2014.
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The vehicle is produced by General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) in both amphibious and non-amphibious versions. Developed based on the field experience gained from the existing PIRANHA 3 vehicle fleet, the PIRANHA 3+ is designed to offer greater crew protection and high manoeuvrability. It features higher payload capacity than its predecessor.
PIRANHA 3+ design and features
The PIRANHA 3+ armoured wheeled vehicle incorporates an ergonomic design with an all-welded armoured hull. The modular design has inherent growth potential for meeting the future needs of the clients.
The vehicle is 7.77m in length, 2.31m high and 2.8m in width. It has a ready-to-operate weight of 17t, gross weight of approximately 27t and payload carrying capacity of up to 10t.
The PIRANHA 3+ is operated by a three-man crew, including a driver, a gunner and a commander. It also accommodates up to ten infantry soldiers. The vehicle is installed with combined nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) / air-conditioning system, and fire extinguishing system for engine and crew section. It can be optionally fitted with a self-recovery winch, auxiliary power unit, health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) and J1939 Automotive CANBUS with MILCAN interface.
The APC will serve as an marine infantry vehicle when fitted with amphibious kit, including two water propellers, seawater cooling system, two twin rudders, bilge pumps, closable louvers of engine grills, and trim van and snorkel system.
Armament and protection features
The new PIRANHA 3+ can be integrated with Kongsberg 12.7mm Protector remote weapon station, 120mm heavy turrets and mortars.
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The vehicle’s modular protection system offers superior protection for the occupants against ballistic threats, mines and IEDs. It can be equipped with signature reduction features and a RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) protection kit to protect the crew from RPG rounds.
PIRANHA 3+ engine and mobility
The PIRANHA 3+ armoured vehicle is powered by a Caterpillar C13 engine, which generates a power of 383kW and a torque of 2,200Nm. It is coupled to ZF automatic transmission system with seven forward and reverse gears. The engine burns F-54 diesel fuel or F34 / JP8 jet fuel.
The vehicle is equipped with 365/85R20, 395/85R20 or 14.00 R20 wheels and run-flat tyres, and central tyre inflation system (CTIS). It also features hydraulic shock absorbers, single-speed gear transfer case, as well as dual-circuit, air-actuated brake system. The vehicle operates in 4×8 and 8×8 drive modes.
The independent suspension system on all the wheels helps to improve the vehicle’s performance. The front suspension is of coil springs and control arms, while the rear suspension is of torsion bars and conventional standard / hydro-pneumatic systems. The PIRANHA 3+ is air transportable by C-130, C-17 and A-400M turboprop military transport aircraft.
Performance of PIRANHA 3+ armoured vehicle
The PIRANHA 3+ armoured wheeled vehicle can attain a maximum road speed of 110km/h and a creep speed of less than 3km/h. It can sail in water at speeds up to 10km/h. The range of the vehicle is 750km. The gradient and maximum side slopes are 60% and 30% respectively. The vehicle can ford at a depth of 1.5m and cross trenches of 2m.
The armoured vehicle has a kerb-to-kerb turning circle diameter of 18m, maximum climbing ability of 0.6m and ground clearance of 0.43m. The power-to-weight ratio is 15.3kW/t, while the approach and departure angles are 40° and 36° respectively. The PIRANHA 3+ is capable of operating in temperatures ranging between -46°C and 49°C.
The Global Armoured Vehicles and Counter-IED Vehicles Market 2011-2021
This project forms part of our recent analysis and forecasts of the global armoured vehicles and counter-IED vehicles market available from our business information platform Strategic Defence Intelligence. For more information click here or contact us: EMEA: +44 207936 6783; Americas: +1 415 439 4914; Asia Pacific: +61 2 9947 9709 or via email.
