Romania to Acquire 150 Piranha Combat Vehicles in 2025

Romanian soldiers assigned to the Black Wolves, 151st Multinational Battle Group ground guide a Piranha V Infantry Fighting Vehicle in a combined arms live fire exercise during Anakonda23 at Nowa Deba, Poland, May 15, 2023. Anakonda23 is Poland's premier national exercise that strives to train, integrate and maintain tactical readiness and increase interoperability in a joint multinational environment, complimenting the 4th Inf. Div.'s mission in Europe, which is to participate in multinational training and exercises across the continent while collaborating with NATO allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America's Forward deployed corps in Europe. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Theresa Gualdarama)Romanian soldiers assigned to the Black Wolves, 151st Multinational Battle Group ground guide a Piranha V Infantry Fighting Vehicle in a combined arms live fire exercise during Anakonda23 at Nowa Deba, Poland, May 15, 2023. Anakonda23 is Poland's premier national exercise that strives to train, integrate and maintain tactical readiness and increase interoperability in a joint multinational environment, complimenting the 4th Inf. Div.'s mission in Europe, which is to participate in multinational training and exercises across the continent while collaborating with NATO allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America's Forward deployed corps in Europe. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Theresa Gualdarama)

Romanian Piranha V Infantry Fighting Vehicles. Photo: Sgt. 1st Class Theresa Gualdarama/US Army National Guard

Romania’s Ministry of Defense plans to purchase 150 more Piranha 5 8×8 infantry fighting vehicles for the armed forces later this year.

Developed by General Dynamics’ Swiss subsidiary Mowag, the Piranha 5 is the latest iteration of the company’s flagship Piranha family of vehicles introduced in the 1970s.

The Piranha 5 was unveiled in 2010 and commissioned into service five years later. In Romania, more than 200 Piranha 5s have been operational since 2020.

The vehicle weighs 60,000 pounds (27,216 kilograms), measures 26 feet (8 meters) long, and can seat up to eight passengers.

It is protected by a 14.5-millimeter to 25-millimeter resistant armor, while its main armaments vary from a 12.7-millimeter machine gun, a 30-millimeter autocannon, a 120-millimeter mortar, or an anti-tank missile launcher.

The Piranha 5 is powered by an MTU or Scania engine with up to 644 horsepower for a top speed of 62 miles (100 kilometers) per hour and a range of 340 miles (547 kilometers).

A Romanian Piranha V Infantry Fighting Vehicle fires rounds down range during Anakonda23 live fire training exercise at Nowa Deba Training Area, Poland, May 15, 2023. Anakonda23 is Poland's premier national exercise that strives to train, integrate and maintain tactical readiness and increase interoperability in a joint multinational environment, complimenting the 4th Inf. Div.'s mission in Europe, which is to participate in multinational training and exercises across the continent while collaborating with NATO allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America's Forward deployed corps in Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jason Klaer)A Romanian Piranha V Infantry Fighting Vehicle fires rounds down range during Anakonda23 live fire training exercise at Nowa Deba Training Area, Poland, May 15, 2023. Anakonda23 is Poland's premier national exercise that strives to train, integrate and maintain tactical readiness and increase interoperability in a joint multinational environment, complimenting the 4th Inf. Div.'s mission in Europe, which is to participate in multinational training and exercises across the continent while collaborating with NATO allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America's Forward deployed corps in Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jason Klaer)
A Romanian Piranha V Infantry Fighting Vehicle fires rounds down range. Photo: Pfc. Jason Klaer/US Army

Romania’s Defense Investments

The move is part of an 8-billion-euro ($8.3-billion) investment that Bucharest will utilize in fiscal 2025 to bolster its military capabilities.

The investment serves as the government’s follow-up on its 10-billion-euro ($10.4 billion) expenditure last year for defense resource modernization, local news agency Mediafax reported.

Among the largest of the country’s ongoing acquisitions is a $6.5-billion project to procure 32 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets from the US, with deliveries planned through the 2030s.

The government is also adopting K9 Thunder 155-millimeter howitzer systems from South Korea, with shipping expected from 2027 to 2029.

Another investment is for over 1,000 Turkish-made Cobra II light-armored tactical vehicles. Approximately 280 platforms in this contract will be provided to Bucharest’s armed forces in 2025, while the rest will be distributed until 2029.

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