 Czech Republic orders additional Pandur II vehicles Prague, Czech Republic (UPI) Feb 3, 2017 - The Czech Republic signed off on an $82 million contract with Tatra Defense Vehicles for the procurement of 20 more Steyr Pandur II trucks. Under the agreement, the company will provide six Pandur vehicles fitted as command-and-control trucks and another 14 vehicles configured as communications platforms. IHS Janes reports government officials initially agreed to buy 20 of the 8x8 trucks in 2015, but that procurement schedules delayed the order. The deal is the latest effort by the Czech Republic to bolster its armored vehicle fleet, which already includes 107 Pandurs. The country's defense ministry expects deliveries to continue until May 2017. "The [increased procurement] price was reviewed by two independent court-appointed experts who ruled that the current price reflects the technological upgrades incorporated into the new vehicles," the Czech Republic's deputy defense minister Daniel Kostoval told reporters on Jan. 30. The Pandur II 8x8 armored vehicle is an updated all-wheel drive version of the Pandur 6x6 armored personnel carrier. Additional operators include Austria, Indonesia and Portrugal. The Czech Republic began receiving Tatra trucks with updated design modifications between 2008 and 2009. The country is procuring the trucks to replace aging vehicles still in service with its armed forces. According to Czech defense leadership, the Tatra trucks come equipped with time-tested chassis, which allow for additional modifications.
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Australia's defense ministry has contracted BAE Systems Australia and Sea Box International to competitively develop prototype ammunition load carriers.
Under the agreement with Australia's government, each company will design and engineer prototype Unit Load Carriers. Australia's defense minister says the competitive award is critical for building innovation within the country's security industry.
"This is a wonderful example of the defense innovation system leveraging world class Australian industry research and development to produce a 155mm ammunition Unit Load Carrier that improves the efficiency of the supply chain and ultimately the safety of Australian soldiers," Australia's Defense Minister Christopher Pyne said in a press release.
The project aims to improve operational use and handling of 155mm artillery ammunition used by ground troops. The country's defense leaders will use the development outcomes to make future procurement decisions.
"We as a government are focused on innovation because, in the defense context, that is how we are going to get our war-fighting advantages," Pyne added.
The contracts awarded to BAE Systems and Sea Box International have a combined value of $2.87 million. Australia's Rapid Prototyping, Development and Evaluation program is funding the project.
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