Mowag Eagle

The original Eagle used the chassis and running gear of the Humvee. It was developed for the needs of the Swiss Army for an armoured reconnaissance vehicle. The Danish Army also purchased the Eagle I, and used it in the 2003 war in Iraq, as well as the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.[2]

The Eagle II was developed to take into account the changes wanted by the Swiss Army for the second batch of armoured reconnaissance vehicle it needed. It uses a different chassis and running gear, the one of the Humvee ECV. But all the equipment is the same as for the Swiss Eagle I.

The Eagle III also uses the chassis and running gear of the Humvee ECV. The Swiss Army was looking for a mobile artillery observer vehicle. The difference is in the cabin that is designed to offer a good visibility to the artillery observers. The electronic equipment was also adapted to the mission, using the INTAFF commanding system of the Swiss Army artillery, and an observation mast (containing CCD-TV, IR, and a laser range finder).[3][4]

The Eagle IV is based on the chassis of the Mowag Duro IIIP. It was introduced commercially in November 2003, and received its IOC (initial operational capability) in 2004 with the Danish Army.[5][6] It was later purchased by the German Army as one of its main armoured mobility vehicle.

• The armoured cabin has a protection STANAG 4569 level III
• The anti-mine protection reaches the STANAG 4569 Level IIa standard [7]

Two Eagle IV in combat configurations are transportable by the C-130 Hercules.

It's combat weight reaches 7,600 kg including 2,400 of payload and high level protection meeting STANAG 4569 level III protection and STANAG 4569 Level IIa mine protection (6 kg TNT under each wheel). The vehicle's width is smaller than the Humvee, which allows two ready to combat Eagle IVs to be transported in a C-130 without special preparations.[8] Up to 2023, it is the most successful variant commercially (587 vehicles).

The Eagle V is the current version. There are two main variants, a 4x4 and a 6x6. The Eagle V 4x4 has 80% of its parts in common with the Eagle IV, which was a requirement of the German Army.

• GTV JLTV Eagle (General Tactical Vehicle JLTV): This prototype is based on the Eagle IV 4x4, GDLS offered this vehicle in the JLTV program that intended to replace the Humvee in the US Armed Forces.[9] A RFP for the TD phase was released in February 2008, the proposals by the industry were received by April 2008. In October 2008, the Pentagon selected three of the other competitors for the EMD phase (Engineering and Manufacturing Development).[10] Oshkosh won the competition with the L-ATV in August 2015.[11] This vehicle never entered service.
• Eagle IV SOF : The Danish Forsvaret (special forces unit) modified an Eagle by removing the doors. It first appeared in 2008. An opening in the roof was made to access to the machine gun. some additional equipment were added, such as rolled camouflage nets that are there to quickly hide the vehicle and protect it from IR emissions. It was designed to replace the Humvee Jülkat.
• Penman Raptor II, a Scottish variant of a licensed Eagle IV.

• Eagle SOF (Special Operation Forces) [12] This prototype was presented by GDELS Mowag at the armament fair Eurosatory 2022. The design is focused on providing a vehicle as robust, durable and mobile as possible. It has an open roof, and can be equipped with various modular kits of armament and protection.[13]

• Führungsfahrzeug Kat. 3 Mowag and the Swiss army are developing this command vehicle in order to replace the older M113A1 Kommandopanzer 63/07.
• IRIS-T SLS Mk III [14] Diehl Defence and Hensoldt presented a prototype for an air defence system based on the Eagle V 6x6 at DSEI 2021. It is one of the answer resulting from the NNbS working group on the short and very short air defence needs of the Bundeswehr. The IRIS-T SLS Mk III intends to be a short range defence system against targets such as helicopters, UAVs, aircraft and missiles. Although the missiles are installed in a slanted position, as they have a lock-on after launch capability, it can reach a target at 360°. The system is designed to engage targets in movement, with the goal of providing an air defence coverage to an assault force. It is a fully independent system that can be connected to an command-and-control system for air-defence.
  • 2 IRIS-T SLS missiles able to reach a target flying at 8 km of altitude, or at a maximum range of 12 km[15]
  • Hensoldt supplies the Spexer lightweight, low power X-band radar system mounted on a mast extendable by 4.7m
  • identification friend-or-foe system
  • Command-and-Control system (C2) Integrated Battle Management Software by Airbus Defence

•  Swiss Army (156)
  • 156 Aufklärungsfahrzeug 93 (light armoured reconnaissance vehicle)
    Ordered in 1993, delivery from 1995, equipped with a 7.5mm Pz Mg 51/71 machine gun and fitted with thermal imaging and radio equipment.[16] These vehicles were retired in 2020 and remain in reserve.[17]
•  Royal Danish Army (36)
  • 36 Spejdervogn M/95 (scout vehicle)
    Purchased in 1994, delivered in 1995-1997[6]
  • 27 sold to a German private company, approved by the Swiss government in April 2013[18]
•  Ukrainian Ground Forces
  • 1 Eagle I was seen on Social Media on the 18th of March 2023 in the city of Avdiivka (near Donetsk). This vehicle was whether transferred by the Danish Army who made a request to transfer some Eagle I to Ukraine, or it was sold by the Germany company who bought 27 Eagle I from the Danish Army. In both cases, it violated the interdiction to export Swiss weapons to countries at war, and it was done so without the permission of the Swiss government.[18]

•  Swiss Army (175)
  • 175 Aufklärungsfahrzeug 93/97 (light armoured reconnaissance vehicle)
    Order in 1997, delivery in 1999 - 2001, equipped with a 7.5mm Pz Mg 51/71 machine gun and fitted with thermal imaging and radio equipment. All but 2 lost in accidents remain in service as of 2023.[16][19] New chassis and new engine, increasing its performance compared to the 93 variant, and equipped with a more powerful radio.

•  Swiss Army (120) [3]
  • 120 Eagle III (SKdt Fz INTAFF gl 4x4, mobile artillery observer vehicles)
    Acquired in 2003, with substantial improvements made to communications and surveillance equipment (yet lacking the machine gun of previous versions). The cost to purchase the vehicle amounted to CHF 166 million.[20]

•  German Army (495)[21] Eagle IV selected in 2008 as part of the GFF Klasse 2 tender.[22]
  • 42 EAGLE BAT (Protected Ambulance Vehicle)
    • 20 ordered urgently in 2009, delivered in 2011 [23]
    • 22 ordered in 2011
  • 453 EAGLE GFF2 (Patrol Security Vehicles and Utility Vehicles for Command Staff)
    Urgent order of a first batch of 25 in July 2008 for a patrol vehicle for the ISAF operation. Three additional batches of GFF2 vehicles followed (173, 60 and 95).[24] The vehicles are all equipped with RCWS KMW FLW100/200. The detailed variants in use in the German Army are:
    • PatSich (Patrouillensicherung, patrol vehicle)[25]
    • FüPers (Führungspersonal, vehicle for Command Staff)[26]
    • Instandsetzung Artillerie Führungs- und Waffeneinsatz System (Repair artillery command and weapon systems)
    • Windmesstrupp (weather balloon squad)[27]
    • Spürhundetrupp Kampfmittelabwehr (K9 EOD squad) [28]
    • Aufklärung zellularer Netze (telecommunication reconnaissance, COMINT)
    • Gesprächsaufklärung (field human intelligence)
    • Documentiong operations with various specialized teams and equipment (EKT in the German Army)
      • EKT (Einsatz-Kamera-Trupp, deployment camera squad) equipped with a camera camera mast on the roof [29]
      • GKT (Geländekameratrupp, terrain camera squad)
      • Video-Aufnahmeausstattung (video recording equipment) [21]
•  Royal Danish Army (90)[30]
  • 90 Eagle IV Order in December 2005 and delivered in 2006–2007 to fulfill the urgent need for MRAP armoured patrol vehicles on the ISAF mission. It is equipped with a gunshot detection system Pilar MK-IIwm, and a BAE Bofors Lemur RCWS that carries whether a M2 Browning or a 40mm grenade launcher.[31]

•  German Army (256)
  • 176 4x4 EAGLE GFF2 (Patrol Security Vehicles and Utility Vehicles for Command Staff)
    Order in May 2013 as part of the GFF2 program [32]
  • 80 6x6 mgSanKfz (Protected Ambulance Vehicle) [33]
    Order in March 2020, deliveries from July 2023 to December 2024 [34] 16.6 t in this variant, 225 kW 306 ps,
•  Luxembourg Army (84)
  • 4 6x6 PAV (Protected Ambulance Vehicle)
    Order in 2021[35]
  • 80 4x4 CLRV (command, liaison and reconnaissance vehicle)s (CLRV)
    Order in September 2022 by the NSPA for the Luxembourg Army, delivery from December 2024 to July 2026, replacement of the Humvee and the ATF Dingo.
    The mission equipment will be common to the French and Belgian VBMR Griffon. It will be fitted with the RWS deFNder Medium from FN Herstal, the information and combat system Scorpion (SICS from ATOS), the CONTACT radio system SDR from Thales and the anti-ied jammer BARAGE from Thales Belgium.
    The acquisition cost is €226.6 million. The acquisition and the life cycle cost of the vehicle and the systems fitted, including the logistics for 15–20 years has a cost cap of €367 million.[36]
•  Royal Danish Army (93) The tender process for the new Patrol Vehicle "Patruljekøretøjer program" began in 2015. Five vehicles were pre-selected, the Ocelot / Foxhoud, Nexter Aravis, Otokar Cobra 2, Oshkosh M-ATV / L-ATV, but only the Ocelot ended up competing against the Eagle V. This program resulted in the purchase of:
  • 36 Multirole armoured vehicle
    Order in May 2017, deliveries in 2018–19.[37][38]
    According to public records from the Danish Parliament, the acquisition cost DKK 233.6 million (approx. USD 35 million for the 36 vehicles), it includes all the equipment its (driving cameras, radios, weapons mounts). The sustainment of those vehicles over 15 years is estimated to be DKK 116.1 million (approx. USD 17.3 million).[39] Variants in use in the Danish Army:
    • Patrol
    • Electronic Warfare
    • Support, Logistic
    • RECCE Closed
    • RECCE Open
  • 56 Patrol Vehicle, Order in 2020
  • 1 RECCE Open, Order in 2020 [40]
•  Swiss Army (104)
  • 5 Eagle V 4x4 EOD (explosive ordonance disposal)
    It is being used by the Swisscoy mission with the KFOR in Kosovo. It is armed with a M2 Browning heavy machine gun (12.7 mm) and a fixed-arraysmoke grenade launcher (76mm).[41]
  • 100 6x6 Aufklärungssystem TASYS (reconnaissance / intelligence vehicle)
    Order in December 2019,[42] deliveries from mid 2023 to end 2025. 89 vehicles will equip 89 reconnaissance, scout and firing commander platoons that exist today. The remaining 11 will be used for training and as circulation reserve.[43]

 Germany, German Federal Police – 10 vehicles in use.[44] It was ordered in 2011 to be used in Afghanistan. The vehicles came back from deployment in 2015, and since then have replaced the Sonderwagen SW4 Thyssen TM in their use to protect airports.

• 3 vehicles at the Berlin Brandenburg Airport
• 3 vehicles at the Frankfurt Airport
• 3 vehicles at the Munich Airport
• 1 vehicles at the Stuttgart Airport[45]

The Federal Police also uses Mercedes Enok for this mission, but it wasn't adapted to be used in Afghanistan.

The Federal Police uses their Mowag Eagle also for the protection of international events such as the G20 summit held in 2017 in Hamburg.

  Switzerland, Zurich Cantonal Police has one Eagle IV which is located at Zurich Airport

•  Swiss Army - Führungsfahrzeug Kat. 3:
  Eagle V 6x6, commanding vehicle as replacement for the M113A1 Kommandopanzer 63/07[46].
  1. First batch - to be ordered in 2024 Budget of CHF260 million (= US$270 million on the 1stof July 2022),[47] quantity unknown yet
  2. Second batch - to be ordered in 2026 or 2027 (mentioned in investment plan 2023–2035)[48] Budget and quantity unknown

•  German Army - IRIS-T SLS Mk III (described in the section "prototypes")[49] Eagle V 6x6, highly mobile vehicle equipped with a SHORAD system expecting to fill in a gap in the air defence capability of the Bundeswehr. This system would provide a cover to assault troops.

•  German Army - Close-in Protection Vehicle (CPV)[49] Eagle V 4x4 equipped with a remote weapon station that would protect ground troops from low altitude UAV and loitering munitions. One variant of the CPV that was also mentioned would accompagny the IRIS-T SLS MkIII, providing coverage from small UAV and from enemy ground troops.As part of this SHORAD needs,for complementary vehicles.
•  German Army - SHORAD Command Control & Liaison (CCL)[49] Eagle V 6x6 that would coordinate the SHORAD and VSHORAD squads

• US Armed Forces - JLTV program:
  The GTV JLTV Eagle, was offered by GDLS as a replacement for the Humvee but lost the competition.[50]
•  Australian Army - Project Land 121 Phase 4 – PMV-L:
  This project intended to replace the Land Rover Perentie by a protected mobility vehicle- light. The competition included some of the JLTV competitors against vehicles manufactured and supported in Australia. GDLS-Australia offered the combat-proven Eagle, the British Ocelot was another option, and Thales Australia offered the Hawkei which was developed in Australia.[51] The Hawkei won the competition.[52]