Mowag Piranha V / The Latest and Most Protected Vehicle

Piranha 5. The Piranha 5 is the latest and most protected vehicle of the Piranha line. It was developed by MOWAG of Switzerland and revealed in 2010. Because of increased weight and protection, versions with powered armament can be considered as wheeled IFVs rather than armored personnel carriers by their function. This armored vehicle is in service with Monaco. The Piranha 5 has an all-welded steel armor hull with integrated add-on composite modular armor. The baseline version provides all-round protection against 14.5mm armor-piercing rounds and artillery shell splinters. Maximum armor level provides all-round protection against 25mm armor-piercing projectiles. Vehicle has a double floor with a V-shaped hull and is well protected against landmines and IED blasts. It withstands anti-tank mine blasts equivalent to 10kg of TNT under any wheel. The Piranha 5 is also proposed with LEDS-150 active protection system, which significantly reduces the chance of being hit by anti-tank guided missiles and anti-tank rockets. Vehicle revealed in 2010 was fitted with a turret-mounted 30mm chain gun. Secondary armament consists of remotely controlled weapon station, armed with a 12.7mm machine gun. Vehicle uses height-adjustable semi-active hydropneumatic suspension and has good mobility on hard surface roads. Though it is not as capable off-road as tracked vehicles, due to its wheeled configuration it is cheaper to buy, operate and to maintain comparing with tracked vehicles. The Piranha 5 is not amphibious. There were plans to develop a specialized amphibious version of this armored vehicle in the future.