General Dynamics European Land Systems is to deliver 309 Piranha 5 armored vehicles and vehicle sustainment services to Denmark.

The contract signed with the Danish Defense Acquisition and Logistic Organization covers six Piranha variants: infantry vehicles, command vehicles, ambulances, engineering Piranhas, and mortar and repair vehicles.

The contract's value is about $600 million. Deliveries will begin in 2018 and continue through 2023.

GDELS said the contract was signed by its Swiss subsidiary GDELS-Mowag.

"General Dynamics European Land Systems is very proud to have received this contract," said GDELS President Alfonso Ramonet. "It underlines the confidence and satisfaction of our Danish customer with our PIRANHA 5 platform, especially with the very high protection against ballistic threats, mines and improvised explosive devices and the excellent mobility both on- and off-road."

The Piranha is a wheeled armored vehicle and will replace Denmark's M113 armored personnel carriers.

"It is important that we invest in the Danish Defense," said Danish Defense Minister Peter Christensen. "Piranha 5 is better protected than the ageing, armored personnel carriers available to the army today, so with this purchase we are enhancing the army's ability to carry out its future tasks."

UAE orders Patria armored vehicles
Helsinki, Finland (UPI) Jan 28, 2016 - Finland's Patria defense company has announced a contract from the United Arab Emirates for its AMV 8x8 armored vehicles.

The vehicles will be manufactured in Poland by Patria's Polish partner.

"This is a magnificent extension for the ongoing, successful cooperation between the UAE Armed Forces and Patria," said Mika Kari, president of Patria's Land business unit. " UAE Armed Forces have been very satisfied with their existing AMV vehicles as they meet all the customer's needs and are suitable for the needed, challenging circumstances.

"These vehicles will be produced by our Polish partner in a very tight time schedule. The agreement done now is very significant for Patria, and we are excited about this and looking forward to providing the vehicles."

Patria said all details of the contract -- including price and quantity -- from the General Headquarters of the United Arab Emirates' Armed Forces are classified.

The Patria AMV is of modular design, enabling the use of different weapon systems, sensors and communications systems. It has an operational range of as much as 530 miles and a land speed of about 60 miles per hour.