KNDS and GDLS integrate artillery gun module onto the Piranha

The US-manufactured Piranha Heavy Mission Carrier (HMC) will integrate a European 155-millimetre and 52 calibre artillery gun module (AGM) in a new agreement between defence prime General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and KNDS, a Franco-German defence conglomerate.

Piranha HMC is the latest variant in the Piranha family of wheeled armoured vehicles.

Weighing up to 40 tonnes with a payload of 17 metric tonnes, the 10×10 wheeled platform aims to fill a gap in the European lands systems market for a manoeuvrable vehicle that includes evolving payload and space claim requirements. This will account for mobile direct and indirect fires, air defence and tactical bridging capabilities.

In conjunction, KNDS’ AGM is featured in other platforms such as the Boxer chassis as well as the Remote Controlled Howitzer-155 system, which the British Army recently adopted.

The azimuth of the AGM on the Piranha is 360-degrees and can be fired on the move. Due to the 10×10 multi-link suspension no vertical prop-ups are required for firing the system, as is often the case with other conventional wheeled howitzers.

Moreover, it offers comprehensive autonomy of the whole system in command, navigation and fire control as well as new operational options due to the stability.

This partnership between two global defence system houses builds on their previous collaboration in which KNDS adapted its Donar AGM onto GDLS’ Ascod infantry fighting vehicle chassis. This earlier concept is very similar as it provides a range of up to 54 kilometres through 360-degree azimuth and all charge and elevation ranges without requiring support.

With the same artillery module on two of the leading wheeled armoured vehicle families in the Western world – the Boxer, and now Piranha – increases Nato interoperability.