30 November 2011 - by the Shephard News Team
General Dynamics European Land Systems has announced that it has been awarded a contract by the Swiss Army for delivery of the DURO Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) for the Swiss Global Mobility Task Force (GMTF). Under the contract the company will deliver an additional 70 vehicles.
According to General Dynamics the procurement of these vehicles was approved in the 2010 Swiss Armament Procurement Program.
The DURO is a highly protected and mobile wheeled vehicle, capable of transporting up to 11 soldiers. It meets the Swiss Army's requirements for a vehicle that provides troop protection and mobility for military applications, as well as peacekeeping operations. The GMTF Armoured Personnel Carrier is part of the DURO and EAGLE family of protected wheeled vehicles in the weight category of up to 14 tons. In the GMTF version, the DURO is 6.90 m long, 2.16 m wide and 2.67 m high. With its modular protection system, the vehicle offers very high ballistic, mine and IED protection. On the road, the GMTF reaches a top speed of 100 km/h and manages gradients of up to 60 percent and lateral inclines of up to 30 percent.
With high on-road and off-road mobility, the GMTF has a 245 hp Cummins turbocharged diesel engine, an Allison 5-speed automatic transmission, unique DeDion axle system with patented anti-roll bar, tire pressure control system and permanent all-wheel drive. All vehicles are equipped with an air-conditioning system and a NBC overpressure system for enhanced comfort and protection.
General Dynamics has already delivered 220 DURO GMTF vehicles to the Swiss Army, procured through the 2008 Swiss Armament Procurement Program. The Swiss Parliament approved the procurement of 70 additional vehicles to increase the DURO GMTF fleet availability for training and deployment.
The company said that deliveries will take place in the fall of 2013. The vehicles will be manufactured at General Dynamics' facility in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland.
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