MOWAG has developed the Piranha IV 8x8 family of vehicles as a private venture and builds on the considerable experience obtained in designing, developing and producing the earlier Piranha III, which is now established as the world market leader in its class.

The first prototype of the Piranha IV was completed in 2001; the second prototype followed in 2004. MOWAG is marketing the Piranha IV alongside the Piranha III, now in quantity production in Canada, Switzerland and the US.

Compared with earlier Piranha vehicles, the new IV boasts a number of significant advantages including greater internal volume (12m3), higher payload and improved mobility.

In addition it has a higher level of armour protection because of its modular armour package, which can be tailored to meet specific user requirements.

The baseline Piranha IV fitted with a roof-mounted 12.7mm machine gun is fully air-portable in a C-130 Hercules aircraft with shoring. When fitted with the enhanced armour package and a two-person General Dynamics Land Systems turret, armed with a 30mm cannon, it can weigh up to 25 tonnes.

Standard equipment for the Piranha IV includes digitised vehicle information system, height-adjustable semi-active hydropneumatic suspension, a central tyre-inflation system with run-flat cores, anti-lock braking system and powered steering on the front four wheels. Unlike earlier Piranha vehicles, the latest Piranha IV is not amphibious.

Many options exist for the Piranha IV, including a nuclear, biological and chemical defensive system, air-conditioning system, fire-detection and -suppression system, heater, winch, turning circle-control system and traction control. A range of weapon systems can be fitted and the vehicle can also be adapted for various specialist roles and missions.

The now Alvis Vickers has a licence to market Piranha IV in South Africa and the UK.