General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) held a Mobility Day on Wednesday at the company’s own test site in Bürglen, Switzerland, close to the production sites in Kreuzlingen and Constance. For the first time, all of the company’s vehicle platforms were demonstrated under realistic conditions.
The event kicked off with a mobility parade, during which the following systems, among others, were demonstrated: Eagle Remote, Eagle V, the technology demonstrator Eagle V Hybrid, Eagle V Recce, the Pandur Evolution from GDELS-Steyr (-> The company recently presented a new air defense variant with an unmanned RIwP turret from Moog), Piranha 3, Piranha 4 MC, Piranha 4 AEV, Piranha 5, Piranha HMC, the new Nemesis self-propelled howitzer, the Ascod infantry fighting vehicle and, most recently, the new Spanish-made MCO (-> Spain-Closing for M3 strengthens NATO pioneer unit) and the M3 bridge-laying system, which has already been delivered to Sweden.
Nemesis self-propelled howitzer seen in motion for the first time
The main focus was on the Nemesis howitzer, which is based on the Ascod platform and is equipped with the fully automated 155-millimeter/L52 artillery gun module (AGM) from KNDS. The system was presented on the move for the first time in Bürglen and, according to GDELS, is designed for high mobility in the field, comprehensive crew protection and powerful indirect fire support.
The event continued with targeted driving maneuvers, including emergency braking with Ascod, Pandur Evolution (see video below), Piranha 5 and the heavy Piranha HMC. The latter impressed with a short braking distance – despite a permissible total weight of up to 40 tons and a payload of 17 tons – and then also mastered an incline with a 60 percent gradient.
It was also interesting to compare the performance of a classic Eagle V with the Eagle 5 Hybrid technology demonstrator mentioned at the beginning. Like the classic Eagle V, the latter has a 210 kW 6-cylinder diesel engine, but also a 370 kW electric drive with a 56 kWh battery. This not only allows energy to be transferred to the road much faster and more directly, but also makes it possible to drive at a crawl over the “last mile”, as the GDELS technicians explained on site.
Trench and step crossing
During the load demonstrations, selected vehicles had to overcome a 1.5-metre-wide trench and a step around 50 centimetres high. In addition, a Piranha 4 demonstrated its amphibious operational capability in water. On the so-called APG track, the Ascod, Piranha HMC and Piranha 5 demonstrated their off-road capabilities – including crossing water holes and driving over uneven, loose ground at high speed.
GDELS also shows what else it can do
The program was complemented by a technology and service exhibition (-> where the Austrian start-up Booxit presented a new drone logistics system) and the opportunity to take a ride in Pandur Evolution, Piranha 5 and Ascod. A tour of the GDELS-Mowag site in Tägerwilen had previously been on the agenda.
GDELS top management on site
There were also opportunities for background discussions with the GDELS leadership, including GDELS President Antonio BuenoThomas Kauffmann (Chief Sales Officer GDELS and Managing Director GDELS-Germany) and Martin Reischer (Managing Director GDELS-Steyr, -> Interview with Militär Aktuell).
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