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December 4, 1999

While the ink of the $115 million contract to develop the MRAV armored vehicle was still damp, the British Ministry of Defense invited Vickers Defence Systems to make a competing offer based on the Mowag Piranha-4 (an upgraded version of the vehicle that is used by the US Marines as the LAV). Vickers said it does not need a development contract since the Piranha-4 is an evolutionary vehicle, and it is being developed anyway for the export market. (The US Army may also pick some version of the Piranha for its Medium Brigades). When the MRAV enters its testing phase in 2002, there will be Piranha-4s undergoing side-by-side testing, and when a production decision is made in 2004, Vickers intends to be the winner. They point out that Piranha is 9.5 tons lighter, 1 meter shorter, considerably cheaper, and available much sooner. They also point out the established network of users and parts suppliers already in place for the Piranha line.--Stephen V Cole