As part of its modernization, the Czech Army will procure new eight-wheeled armored transporters, which are expected to become promising successors to the current Pandur II 8x8 CZ wheeled vehicles. This type is one of the basic armored platforms of the Czech Army and has proven itself in service, but since its inception, the requirements for this category of equipment have increased significantly, especially in terms of armor protection.

The Pandur II 8x8 CZ armored vehicles still have potential for further development, but the Czech Army has made it clear through its representatives that it prefers to purchase completely new vehicles. One option is the new-generation Pandur 8x8 EVO, which was developed by Tatra Defence Vehicle in Kopřivnice in response to the aforementioned increasing requirements and based on customer interest in the Pandur 8x8 platform as such. In addition to directly replacing the Pandur II 8x8 CZ armored vehicles currently in service with the Czech Armed Forces, the new generation of Pandur 8x8 EVO could also provide the Czech Armed Forces with other important capabilities, such as direct and indirect fire support and air defense.

Pandur 8x8 platform – manufactured in the Czech Republic

The Pandur 8x8 EVO is a fully Czech product in terms of production and delivery, and is the result of domestic development. The original Pandur II 8x8 CZ armored vehicle in the KBVP version was developed in Austria, and the vehicles for the Czech Army were assembled in the Czech Republic. Further versions were developed and manufactured directly in the Czech Republic. During their operation, their servicing and support were gradually transferred to the Czech Republic, where they are now provided by Tatra Defence Vehicle. In 2015, Tatra Defence Vehicle obtained the license rights for production and export to selected territories, which led to the transfer of serial production, so that all eight-wheeled Pandur armored vehicles are now completely manufactured in the Czech Republic, including those for foreign users such as Indonesia and the Philippines.

Tatra Defence Vehicle subsequently developed two new variants of the Pandur II 8x8 CZ, namely the KOVS communications version and the KOVVŠ command version, which feature increased durability and a number of modified structural components in the hull and chassis. This was followed by a new generation of this platform, named Pandur 8x8 EVO. The first representative of this type will be on display at the IDET 2025 trade fair in May. Unlike the previous KBVP Pandur II 8x8 CZ vehicles in service with the Czech Army, the UT30MK2 turret for the KBVP Pandur 8x8 EVO will also be of Czech origin, as Elbit will transfer the technology and know-how required for complete production to the Czech Republic, also to Tatra Defence Vehicle.

Although this is a Czech product, the entire program is also being carried out in close cooperation with GDELS-Steyr, the Austrian subsidiary of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS). All six-wheeled armored vehicles of the Pandur family are manufactured in Austria and have achieved a number of export successes, having been adopted by the armies of Austria, Belgium, Kuwait, and Slovenia, as well as the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), where the six-wheeled Pandurs serve under the name AGMS (Armored Ground Mobility System). The latest generation of this platform is called Pandur 6x6 EVO, which shares a number of features and technologies with the new Pandur 8x8 EVO armored vehicle. The first customer for this six-wheeled armored vehicle was its home country, Austria, whose army has already ordered a total of 325 units, of which the first dozens have already been delivered. The diverse list of special versions also includes those that could certainly be used by the Czech Army in eight-wheeled versions.

The unique Crossbow mortar system

The first is a self-propelled mortar, the first unit of which was unveiled to the public in June 2024 at the Eurosatory 2024 trade fair in Paris. The Pandur 6x6 EVO vehicle on display was equipped with the Crossbow system from Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems. A 120 mm mortar with automatic breech loading is mounted in a remote-controlled turret. It offers an elevation range of -3 to +87 degrees, enabling it to fire effectively in both direct and indirect modes. The maximum short-term rate of fire is 10 rounds per minute, with a sustained rate of 6 rounds per minute. The system can fire its first shot within 30 seconds of stopping and, after completing its firing task, can quickly leave its position to escape enemy retaliation (the so-called Shoot & Scoot mode). In addition, it is also capable of firing while on the move. The MRSI (Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact) capability is also standard nowadays. Thanks to this capability, several projectiles fired in succession can hit the target area at the same time. It is also worth mentioning that, unlike some competing solutions, the Crossbow mortar can be loaded in any barrel position.

The Crossbow complex can fire a wide range of 120 mm mortar shells, the most powerful of which have a maximum range of over 10 km. It is also worth mentioning that Elbit Systems offers Iron Sting ammunition, which, in addition to a maximum range of over 10 km, features terminal guidance. Each grenade has both a GPS satellite navigation terminal and a semi-active laser sensor, which allows it to accurately home in on the reflection of a laser beam on the target. The Crossbow system therefore also allows for the programming of satellite guidance for Iron Sting ammunition. It should also be added that the turret is equipped with secondary armament in the form of a 12.7 mm coaxial machine gun, which is not entirely common in this category. The Crossbow mortar system can be installed on a variety of tracked or wheeled platforms, including the new Czech Pandur 8x8 EVO armored vehicle and the older Pandur II 8x8 CZ.

Air defense systems capable of countering drones

Another application for the Pandur EVO family of armored vehicles is air defense, including the increasingly important fight against small unmanned aerial vehicles. The list of Pandur 6x6 EVO armored vehicles ordered for the Austrian Army therefore includes a vehicle equipped with the Skyranger 30 turret module from Germany's Rheinmetall Defence. The Skyranger 30 system includes a 30 mm rapid-fire cannon that can also fire ammunition with a programmable time fuse, which is proving to be very effective against small drones. The cannon offers a maximum rate of fire of around 1,200 rounds per minute and an effective range of 3,000 meters. A launcher for four guided missiles against air targets can also be installed on the turret. Fire is guided by radars and optoelectronic sensors.

In addition to the Skyranger 30 system, other air defense weapons can also be installed on the Pandur 6x6 EVO and Pandur 8x8 EVO vehicles. In March this year, another version of the Pandur 6x6 EVO was unveiled to the public at the AUSA 2025 exhibition in the U.S., which may be related to plans by U.S. special forces to purchase additional AGMS vehicles. The vehicle was equipped with a RIwP (Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform) turret, which was developed by the U.S. company Moog. As the name suggests, it is a kind of "kit" that can be configured according to customer requirements, i.e., equipped with various types of weapons and instruments. The RIwP turret on the armored vehicle on display was equipped with a 30 mm XM914 automatic cannon and a pair of quad launchers for Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, while a Ku-band Echodyne EchoShield radar and a large optoelectronic sensor block were used for target detection and fire control.

As already mentioned, the modular nature of the RIwP turret allows for the use of a very wide range of effectors and sensors. It is therefore possible to install many types of cannons, machine guns, grenade launchers, and anti-aircraft and anti-tank guided missiles. In addition, it can fire delay ammunition, and the list of effectors also includes smoke grenade launchers, electronic jammers, and laser weapons. The range of usable sensor elements includes not only the usual types of radar, optical, and infrared devices but also, for example, acoustic fire locators and electronic reconnaissance equipment. The RIwP turret can also serve as a carrier for various types of drones. In any case, 85% of the turret components remain the same regardless of the specific configuration. The U.S. Army uses the RIwP turret as part of its air defense systems on the Stryker armored vehicle chassis, namely the M-SHORAD Sergeant Stout and M-LIDS, the latter of which is designed primarily to combat small unmanned aerial vehicles.

The huge importance of effective protection against small drones, as shown by the ongoing war in Ukraine, is naturally reflected in the plans of the Czech Army, as there are reports about the possibility of getting some kind of system in this category. The most frequently mentioned type is the Skyranger, which has already achieved a number of export successes and is undoubtedly one of the most effective systems of its kind in the world. Its integration into the Pandur 6x6 EVO armored vehicles ordered by the Austrian Army shows that installation on the Pandur 8x8 EVO platform is also no problem. The same applies to the Elbit Crossbow mortar turret, which is probably the best solution in its category for providing fire support to mechanized troops. Self-propelled mortars and self-propelled air defense systems are undoubtedly among the most important capabilities, and the domestic Pandur 8x8 EVO armored platform offers the Czech Army the optimal way to acquire them.