Ministry of Defence of Botswana has recently ordered 45 Piranha 8×8 armoured vehicles made by General Dynamics Switzerland.
16 May, the Botswana’s The Business Weekly & Review magazine reported that the country was planning to spend nearly BWP2 billion on 45 Piranha 8×8 armoured vehicles made by General Dynamics Switzerland – presumably a reference to General Dynamics European Land Systems Mowag (GDELS-Mowag) – and turrets armed with 30 mm guns.
Botswana already using Piranha III vehicles, 45 of which were delivered from 2003 (according The Military Balance 2013).
Piranha III is a family of armoured wheeled vehicles developed by Mowag Motorwagenfabriken of Switzerland, now part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems (ELCS).
Over 8,000 Piranha family vehicles have been ordered and delivered. General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada (formerly General Motors Defense) also produce a version of the Piranha III known as the LAV III. The vehicles are constructed in a 6×6, 8×8 and 10×10 configuration.