The Mowag Eagle is a series of wheeled armoured vehicle designed by Mowag, a Swiss company now owned by GDELS (General Dynamics European Land Systems).

Models

Eagle I

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.

Eagle II

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.

Eagle III

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).

Eagle IV

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. It was later purchased by the German Army as one of its main armoured mobility vehicle. 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. Up to 2023, it is the most successful variant commercially (587 vehicles).

Eagle V

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

Prototypes and known variants in development

Based on the Eagle IV

Prototype based on the Eagle V 4×4

Prototype based on the Eagle V 6×6

Military operators

Summary

List of firm orders

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Eagle I

These vehicles were ordered and financed in 1993 for CHF 105 million, delivery from 1995, equipped with a 7.5mm Pz Mg 51/71 machine gun and fitted with thermal imaging and radio equipment. These vehicles were retired in 2020 and remain in reserve. Purchased in 1994, delivered in 1995-1997, 27 of which were sold to FWW Fahrzeugwerke, a German private company; sale approved by the Swiss government in April 2013. FWW Fahrzeugwerk exported the Eagle to Ukraine with approval from the German government, but the sale violates the interdiction to export Swiss weapons to countries at war, and it was done so without the approval of the Swiss government.

Eagle II

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. New chassis and new engine, increasing its performance compared to the 93 variant, and equipped with a more powerful radio.

Eagle III

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.

Eagle IV

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). The vehicles are all equipped with RCWS KMW FLW100/200. The detailed variants in use in the German Army are: 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.

Eagle V

Order in May 2013 as part of the GFF2 program for almost €110 million Order in March 2020, deliveries from July 2023 to December 2024 for €148 million 16.6 t in this variant, 225 kW 306 ps, Order in 2021 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 RCWS is equipped with a M2 machine gun, EO/IR sensors, and a 6-smoke grenades launcher. 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. The deliveries started in 2024. Order in May 2017, deliveries in 2018–19. 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). Variants in use in the Danish Army: 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). Order in December 2019, 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.

Civilian operators

Summary

List of firm orders

Eagle IV

Eagle V

Potential clients

Ongoing evaluation (Eagle V)

Failed bid

Eagle IV

Eagle V

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 V, the British Ocelot was another option, and Thales Australia offered the Hawkei which was developed in Australia. The Hawkei won the competition. The GTV JLTV Eagle, was offered by GDLS as a replacement for the Humvee but lost the competition.

Gallery