General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) has announced a significant expansion of its production and support operations in Germany, with plans to manufacture up to 500 Piranha wheeled armored vehicles and 500 Eagle V protected vehicles annually for the German Armed Forces.
The plan was outlined by Thomas Kauffmann, Vice President of GDELS and Managing Director of GDELS Deutschland, during his remarks at the RüNET 2025 defense industry event in Koblenz. The initiative, called “Strategy 24-500,” aims to accelerate deliveries and increase GDELS’s presence in Germany.
According to Kauffmann, the concept ensures that the first series-production vehicle will be delivered within 24 months of contract signature, after which the company intends to maintain an annual output of up to 500 vehicles. He said the approach is designed to meet Bundeswehr requirements as it seeks to modernize its ground forces and strengthen tactical mobility.
To implement the strategy, GDELS has established a new subsidiary, GDELS-Fahrzeugwerke GmbH, and plans to open two new production sites in southern Germany. One will be located near Munich and another in southern Baden-Württemberg. Both facilities will produce Piranha vehicles, which share design roots with the U.S. Army’s Stryker, along with the Eagle V, already in service with the Bundeswehr.
A new “System Support Center Piranha” will also be created in Neubrandenburg. This facility will provide lifecycle support and integration for the Piranha fleet, including those ordered under the Tactical Wide Area Network for Land Based Operations (TaWAN LBO) program. Groundbreaking is expected later this month.
Kauffmann noted that the 24-500 plan is not only focused on delivery schedules but also on reinforcing industrial resilience within Germany.
GDELS is also expanding its bridge system production. At its Kaiserslautern site, the company is taking over existing industrial infrastructure to increase output of the Amphibie M3 floating bridge and ferry system. Additional facilities in nearby Sembach will enhance maintenance capabilities across its product range.
The company currently operates more than a dozen sites across Europe and produces over 1,000 powertrains each year for the Piranha family. With new sites in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate, GDELS is positioning itself as a key supplier of armored platforms and bridging systems for Germany and NATO allies.
