Czechs approve acquisition of Pandur II armored vehicles

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The Czech government has approved the implementation of an agreement for acquisition of 20 Pandur II 8x8 armored vehicles.

The estimated cost of the agreement with Excalibur Army spol., which makes the Pandur in the Czech Republic under license from Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge, part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems, is about $52.5 million.

The contract would be for 20 8x8 vehicles, six of them in a command-staff configuration, as well as logistics support and training services.

Defense Minister Martin Stropnicky said acquisition of the vehicles "is one of the key priorities" in enhancing the capabilities the headquarters and battalions of the country's 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade.

"The acquisition and the introduction of command-staff and connecting wheeled armored vehicles will significantly enhance the ability of the Army of the Czech Republic," he said.

A contract for the vehicles was originally signed in 2006 and re-signed in 2009, but its implementation was delayed. The deal will now be implemented by the end of this year, The Ministry of Defense said.