General Dynamics European Land Systems and Excalibur Army join forces to promote Wheeled Armoured Vehicle PANDUR II 8X8
Posted on 2015-02-03
MADRID/VIENNA– General Dynamics European Land Systems S.L. (GDELS), through its Vienna-based subsidiary GDELS-Steyr GmbH, and Excalibur Army spol. s r.o. (EXCA), a Czech company established in 1995 with office in Prague, have joined forces on the Wheeled Armoured Vehicle PANDUR II 8x8.
In January 2015, the companies entered into a collaboration that allows Excalibur Army to exclusively market, sell and service the PANDUR II 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicle family in Czech Republic and other selected markets in Eastern Europe and Asia. The vehicles will be manufactured under license at Excalibur Army sites in Czech Republic and Slovakia. General Dynamics European Land Systems-Steyr will support Excalibur Army’s activities with design services and delivery of components.
“With this step we have established a sustainable collaboration with a trusted and capable partner, which has a significant industrial footprint in Czech Republic and Slovakia and also excellent market access to other export markets in Eastern Europe and Asia,” said Thomas Kauffmann, GDELS Vice President International Business & Services. “The transfer of technology and the local production of these vehicles with enormous export potential, presents real opportunity to the Czech and Slovak industry. It will prove our approach to be successful through international cooperation.”
“For Excalibur Army this is a key strategic alliance with an international perspective which can raise Western technology know-how and production skills for the company even further than it is today,” said Excalibur Group Owner Jaroslav Strnad. “Excalibur Group has a proven record in development, production, assembly and service of complete armored vehicles and this partnership will improve this capability to an even higher standard”.
The two companies will bring the benefits of this partnership to compete for the Czech Ministry of Defence program to build and supply 20 PANDUR II 8x8 command and communication vehicles. This new order will strengthen Czech Ministry of Defence’s already successfully operating fleet of 107 PANDUR II 8x8 vehicles. If awarded to the partnership, the local development and production of the vehicles are expected to bring significant benefits to the Czech Defence industry.
About General Dynamics European Land Systems
General Dynamics European Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, is a leading European land and systems supplier of combat vehicles and artillery and their world-leading products, services and solutions are deployed in the toughest scenarios like Afghanistan. With more than 1,870 highly skilled technical employees, General Dynamics European Land Systems conducts its business through five European operating units located in Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Spain and Switzerland. More information at www.gdels.com
About Excalibur Army
Excalibur Army, a subsidiary of EXCALIBUR Group of companies, is the leading Czech manufacturer and trader with land defence systems with over 300 employees. Its main production facility located in Šternberk, Czech Republic has long tradition of manufacturing, servicing and overhauls of BMP family of vehicles and other land defence systems of eastern origin. Thanks to partnership with General Dynamics, Excalibur Army has developed capability of manufacturing and servicing of modern western land defence systems. As a member of EXCALIBUR Group, which has over 2,100 employees, Excalibur Army cooperates with holding´s subsidiaries in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, among them also well-known truck manufacturer Tatra. More information at www.excaliburgroup.cz