The Czech company Tatra Defense Vehicle is creating a prototype of the Pandur 8×8 EVO, which will be equipped with modern guided weapons and active protection systems.

This is reported by the Czech publication CZ Defence.

Tatra presented the concept of an 8×8 wheeled combat vehicle based on the existing Pandur II platform. The developers are already producing a working prototype, which is to be presented at this year’s IDET exhibition in Brno.

It is reported that the development of the Pandur 8×8 EVO had been initiated due to the interest of the foreign users of this platform in deep modernization of their vehicle fleet, as well as the need of the Czech army for new armored vehicles.

The Tatra Defense Vehicle specialists, together with GDELS-Steyr, developed the concept of the new vehicle, borrowing certain solutions from the Pandur 6×6 EVO model, which was created for the Austrian army.

Pandur 8×8 EVO

The Pandur 8×8 EVO project was designed from the outset to be compatible with the existing Pandur II 8×8 family of vehicles. This will allow the fleet to be modernized to a new level and unify logistics.

Compared to previous models, the new generation vehicle will provide a higher level of protection and greater firepower due to the new combat module. However, with the increase in weight, the vehicle will lose the ability to cross water obstacles.

The weight of the Pandur 8×8 EVO has increased to 25 tons, which is 4.2 tons heavier than the Czech Army’s basic Pandur II 8×8 CZ. The weight gain is due to increased ballistic protection and a new hull bottom shape that provides better mine resistance. The fuel tanks were also relocated in the hull to improve crew safety.

In order to compensate for the weight gain, a more powerful 8.9 liter Cummins ISL turbodiesel engine was installed in the vehicle, along with a German ZF Ecomat 6 HO 902 S automatic transmission. The range on the highway should be up to 600 km, with a top speed of up to 105 km/h.

The crew of the combat vehicle consists of 10 people: three crew members and 7 people in the landing compartment, which has an exit through the aft ramp.

The main advantage of the new vehicle will be a complex of modern electronics, as well as the UT30MK2 combat module with a Mk.44 Bushmaster II 30 mm gun and a launcher for two Spike-LR2 anti-tank missiles.

The commander and gunner will have identical, fully stabilized optoelectronic sights with automatic target tracking and the ability to intercept control from one crew member to another. Both sights will include a daytime television channel and a thermal imaging camera. The commander will also have a separate panoramic sight.

The UT30MK2 turret will carry a lightweight version of the Iron Fist LC active protection system, which is capable of intercepting and physically destroying anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades directed at the combat vehicle in the near field.

The Iron Fist consists of perimeter radars that search for threats and several rotating mortars that fire countermeasures at the right time to destroy the threat.