Mowag Piranha

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Chilean Mowag Piranha 8X8.

Piranha-derived LAV25 in USMC service

Canadian Piranha-derived, six-wheeled Cougar AVGP, with Scorpion tank turret (76 mm gun)

Prototype of a Mobile Gun System derivative of the Piranha, mounting a 105 mm tank gun

Piranha-derived Stryker, clad with a supplementary anti-HEAT shell slat armour

Canadian Forces LAV III

The LAV-25 has two M240 machine guns and a 25 mm autocannon

The Mowag Piranha is a family of armoured fighting vehicles designed and manufactured by the Swiss Mowag corporation (now General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems). Three generations of vehicles have been produced, and variants include the LAV or Light Armoured Vehicle in service with many militaries.

It is available in 4x4, 6x6, 8x8, and 10x10 wheel versions. There are several variants within these versions, giving different degrees of armour protection and several kinds of turrets, for use in a variety of roles. Piranha derivatives have been assigned roles as troop transports, command vehicles, fire support vehicles, tank trainers, and police vehicles.

Piranhas are used by the Swiss Army. Swiss-built Piranha derivatives have been exported to Chile, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland and Spain. Piranha derivatives have been manufactured under licence by General Dynamics (Canada), BAE Systems Land Systems (UK), Komatsu (Japan), FAMAE (Chile), and in the USA.

The Belgian Army has selected the Piranha IIIC 8x8, while simultaneously removing the current main battle tank, the Leopard, from the inventory.

The controversial 8x8 US Army Stryker vehicle is derived from the Piranha, as is the LAV 25 family in service with the USMC. The Australian Defence Force also has its own modified version of the Piranha known as the ASLAV (Australian Light Armoured Vehicle). The ASLAV is operated by two cavalry regiments (the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment) and is used in the armoured reconnaissance and armoured personnel carrier roles.

Some variants, like the United States Marine Corps's Light Armored Vehicle-25 (LAV-25) and its derivatives, are equipped with propellers for amphibious use, though their abilities are limited to sheltered waters.

[edit] Variants

6 wheels:
- AVGP
  - Cougar - AFV mounting the same turret as a British Scorpion tank (76 mm main gun).
  - Grizzly - APC with a Cadillac Gage turret mounting a .50 BMG and a 7.62 mm machine gun.
  - Husky - Armoured recovery vehicle,
  - Piranha - Antitank vehicle with TOW turret
8 wheels:
- Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle
- Bison Armoured Vehicle
- LAV II
- LAV 25
- ASLAV
- LAV-m
- LAV-AT
- LAV-log
- LAV-c2 (C Square)
- LAV III
- Stryker
- Mobile Gun System (MGS)