February 4, 2006:
Wheeled armored vehicles continue to grow in popularity, as the Czech Republic buys 199 Pandur II vehicles from General Dynamics (via its Austrian subsidiary, Steyr-Daimler-Puch). The 15 ton vehicle is similar to the U.S. Army Stryker, and cost about $4 million each. The Pandur vehicles will replace Cold War era OT-64s (13 ton wheeled armored vehicles), which are also similar to the Pandur, but pretty much worn out by now. The Czech Pandurs will be, like the Stryker, equipped with better electronics, and things like remote control turrets.