The Army has signed a €33 million contract for a further 25 armoured personnel carriers from the Swiss company Mowag.
The deal, signed just before Christmas, will bring to 65 the number of Piranha III carriers in service with the Defence Forces. The vehicles are expected to be delivered towards the end of 2003.
The carriers represent the single largest investment in armoured vehicles for the Defence Forces. Funding for the initial 40 vehicles came from savings made from 3,000 voluntary redundancies and early retirements, and from the sale of Defence properties.
The model which has been bought by the Defence Forces is mounted with a .5 calibre machine gun and provides protection against small to medium arms fire and small landmines.
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