Minister of National Defence, Mihai Fifor, participates Friday at the signing of the procurement contract for 227 Piranha V armoured carriers, a release of the ministry announces.
On November 29, 2017, the Romanian Government adopted the decision that approved the circumstances and specific procedure related to the first phase of the „8 x 8 Armoured Personnel Carrier” essential armament program for awarding a framework agreement on supplying 227 armoured and derived carriers on the PIRANHA 5 platform and the initial logistic support to General Dynamics European Land Systems.
The government decision was issued based on a memorandum of understanding with the US military vehicle manufacturer, signed on October 10, 2017, to produce armoured carriers at Uzina Mecanica Bucuresti.
The US company, as the Government announced at that moments, will transfer technology to Romania and the first carriers were planned to be purchased by MApN within one of the endowment programs approved by CSAT.
The production of armoured carriers, another category, in partnership with the German company Rheinmetall is also among the Government’s plans. The construction of these carriers would take place in Moreni, in Dambovita county. Also with Rheinmetall there are to be produced missiles, at Electromecanica Ploiesti plant.
The 8 × 8 armoured personnel carrier is a means of transport of the infantry group, as well as of the support structures, absolutely necessary, as Ministry of Defence states, for achieving the specific tasks by Romanian Ground Forces. This vehicle provides an increased mobility and protection to the personnel on board during specific missions, in any landscapes, regardless of time, season or weather conditions.
The combat technique on wheels currently available to the Romanian Armed Forces is of an old generation and is obsolete both from the technological point of view and the technical-tactical characteristics, such as the speed of movement, mobility in different environments, protection of the personnel, observation possibilities, orientation, communications, etc.
