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Pandur I

1996 ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER MODERN SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY

History of Pandur I

The Pandur I is a multi-faceted wheeled 6x6 chassis primarily used as a fast armored personnel carrier in various army and security forces stocks worldwide. The system was developed in the early 1980s from the like-minded Spanish Pegaso 3560 BMR system, an in-house private enterprise of the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch.

The design goal was to provide a mobile product that would utilize as many existing components as possible to minimize costs and ensure parts availability for potential buyers. Two development test cars were used to test different concepts, leading to the unveiling of the first prototype in 1985. Six pre-production vehicles were then built to further refine the design. However, it was not until 1994 that the Austrian Armed Forces placed its first order to meet its ongoing obligations to the United Nations.

Delivery begins the following year. In 2003, the Austrian company was acquired by US defense giant General Dynamics to become General Dynamics European Land Combat System (ELCS). In addition, AV Technology International handles overseas production to circumvent strict Austrian export laws.

Pandur I has since served in the Austrian, Belgium, Kuwait, Slovenia, United States, Royal Solomon Islands and Equatorial Guinea police and military. The Pandur I series was later replaced by the much improved Pandur II series, with 6x6 or 8x8 wheel arrangements, and more powerful engines.

The design of the Pandur I is traditional as far as the 6x6 vehicles of the 1980s go. She has gusseted armor on all key panels to repel the enemy's small arms fire. The design was given a relatively low profile for smaller targets and six strong, evenly spaced high-performance wheels (three on each side) to encourage good-to-great on- and off-road performance. Even if one of the front steering wheels is damaged or disabled, the driver can still control the Pandur I. The choice of wheel spacing allows the car to have a tight turning radius, and the independent suspension combined with an excellent damping system helps to assist off-road. Cage headlights are mounted on the front side panels on either side of the Glacis Pate for night driving.

The crew compartment remained in the front of the fuselage and was offset to the left, and the engine was mounted in the right compartment. Weapons are variable and mission dependent, but can be concentrated in a powered turret located on top of the hull, either offset to the left of the centerline (for smaller caliber weapons) or centered in the rear of the hull ( for large-caliber weapons). towers of the same size). The driver sits on the front left side of the hull, behind the well-sloped front fender, with the vehicle commander/gunner behind.

Depending on the mission role, two standard crew members manage the functions of the Pandur, and an additional eight passengers/troops can be transported in the cabin. The cabin is located aft of the fuselage and is equipped on the side with sights and ports for personal use of small arms, access is regulated by two multi-hinged rectangular doors that are individually adjustable along the rear fuselage fairing.

An additional round access hatch was installed in the hull, to the right of the commander's hatch, and two rectangular hatches were installed aft of the top of the cabin, hinged on their outer opposite edges. Some versions of the Pandur I, including the Austrian and Kuwaiti models, are designed with a raised rear troop compartment.

Loading is via side compartments and rear rack.

Regarding the weapons of the Pandur I, this is largely left to the operator and designated role, but typically consists of an air-cooled 12.7mm (.50 caliber) heavy machine gun mounted on the commander's cupola, capable of firing up to 1,000 rounds Carry 12.7mm ammunition. The one-man turret can be protected by horn shield armor called "Upgunned Weapon Station".

The versatility of the Pandur I allows various mounts and powered turrets to be mounted on the upper hull to support more powerful systems such as 20 or 25mm automatic cannons, dual belt fed 30mm Mauser cannons and 35mm cannons to deploy alternatives Artillery, 90mm tank destroying main gun, HOT anti-tank missile launchers and large-caliber mortars, some of which are housed in two-man turrets.

Armor protection is limited to 7.62mm caliber (armor-piercing) small arms fire, although the front is further protected against heavy weapons fire and fragments penetrating 12.7mm or even 14.7mm projectiles to delay. Decal armor can be used to increase survivability. For the comfort of the crew, a heater can be installed to control the cabin temperature.

Standard integrated power steering supports driving maneuvers for a smooth response from the steerable front wheelset. With the implementation of a fire suppression system and a fire detection system, the survivability of the crew has been improved. Up to six smoke grenade launchers can be mounted as tubular launchers on the optional powered turret or along the hull itself.

A central tire adjustment system manages the pressure on the six wheels on the fly, allowing the Pandur I to adjust ground pressure to suit the desired terrain. Each tire is also designed to "deflate" 50 kilometers after damage occurs.

The Pandur I has an operating weight of 13.5 tonnes. Measurements include a length of 18'8", a width of 8'3" and a listed height of 6'. Power is provided by a single 6-cylinder Steyr-branded turbodiesel engine delivering 260 hp at 2,400 rpm.

This gives the vehicle a road speed of 62 miles per hour (100 km/h) and a range of approximately 435 miles (700 km).

While using the same chassis, the Pandur I developed two basic variants, referred to simply as "Model A" and "Model B". The Model A has an elongated central roof design and is capable of taking on a variety of dedicated battlefield roles, including ambulances with internal medical throws, powerful anti-tank attack platforms, standard armored personnel carriers with troop seating capacity, and expanded mobile command equipment Posts for communications equipment and repair and recovery vehicles.

Noted by its "flat" roof, the Model B was designed to fulfill the dedicated roles of amphibious assault (through the use of mounted self-propelled water jets), large-caliber mortar transporter, and reconnaissance fire support vehicle (FSV).

The Austrian Armed Forces started using the Pandur I series in 1996, eventually delivering 71 units. Belgium took over licensed production of the vehicle in 5 main variants, with a total of 45 examples.

The Kuwait National Guard operates around 70 vehicles in 6 main models under the production banner of AV Technology International (Av Technology took over overseas production due to Austrian law prohibiting the sale of Austrian war material to "tense areas"). The Slovenian army is an important manufacturer (licensed) and operator of the Pandur I with its 85 prototypes and uses them under the name "Valuk". The U.S. Army purchased the Pandur I for possible use as a multipurpose "Armored Ground Mobility System" (AGMS), also manufactured under the AV Technology Products banner, with 50 examples for Special Operations Command (USASOC). Equatorial New Guinea is believed to maintain a small force of about 15 Pandur I vehicles.

These elements were formed from the spoils of conquest when the government confiscated a cargo ship of Pandur Is (which was then leased to the West) carrying 15 Belgian troops. Benin) and travelled to the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in early 2006.