Portugal is considering upgrading its Pandur II armoured fighting vehicles or replacing them with IFVs. (Portuguese MoD)
Portugal is trying to decide whether to upgrade its Pandur II armoured fighting vehicles or replace them with infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). Lieutenant Colonel Marco Cordeiro, commander of the reconnaissance squadron of the Portuguese Army's 6th Cavalry Regiment, presented two upgrade options for the Pandur II on the last day of SAE Media Group's Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability (FAVS) 2024 conference, held in London from 11 to 13 November.
The Portuguese Army's medium mechanised brigade operates two versions of the Pandur II: an infantry carrier vehicle (ICV) and an IFV. The service also has an armoured brigade with Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks and M113 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and a rapid reaction brigade with 4×4 light armoured vehicles.
The first option for upgrading Portuguese Pandur IIs is for the ICVs to transition into IFVs, and in the very long term in the 2030s receiving a life-cycle extension. Under a mid-life upgrade proposed by General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), the ICV's 12.7 mm machine gun would be replaced by the IFV's 30 mm medium-calibre weapon station (MCWS), increasing not only firepower but also protecting the gunner/commander, who are unprotected in the ICV. The MCWS's Mk44 30 mm gun can fire programmable airburst ammunition against unmanned aerial vehicles and hidden infantry. An anti-tank missile launcher with an effective range up to 4,000 m could also be installed, with the possibility of integrating Javelin, Spike, or Missile Moyenne Portée (MMP).
The Pandur II's radio, intercom, and battle management system would also be upgraded or new ones integrated, with the option for a panoramic day/night sight and hunter-killer function.
Looking to read the full article?
Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...
