BAE's Panther leaps ahead

BAE's Panther command-and-liaison vehicle has successfully passed its UK ministry of defence (MOD) reliability qualification trials, a major milestone for entering service. The company is now on track to deliver the first 56 vehicles by the end of September. A total of 401 Panthers are scheduled to be delivered between now and April 2009.

Panther is a multi-role rapid-deployment 4x4 vehicle with mine and ballistic protection. It was chosen by the UK MOD for its command-and-liaison vehicle programme, to meet the threats of the 21st century.

Carried out at the Armoured Trials & Development Unit at Bovington in southern England, the trials aimed to evaluate the vehicle for a number of roles it will fulfil with the British Army and the Royal Air Force (RAF).

It is to be used as a commander's vehicle for engineer troops, anti-tank, mortar and supporting fire platoons and as a liaison officer's vehicle for armoured reconnaissance and armoured infantry units. It will also be deployed with the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) for asset co-ordination and by the Royal Signals for radio rebroadcast.

Military user trials demonstrated that Panther has many technological advances than previously seen on land vehicles. The British Army crews praised its outstanding mobility and performance, the company said.

A product partnership between BAE Systems and Iveco DVD, the 7.1 tonne Panther is a highly innovative vehicle that combines the benefits of commercially proven vehicles with a design that incorporates mine and ballistic protection. It is a highly survivable, air-transportable and high-mobility vehicle suited to deployment in a wide variety of roles and operational environments, from war to peace-keeping.