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.
Its combat weight reaches 4,800 kg including 1,000 of payload and meeting STANAG 4569 level I protection and STANAG 4569 Level I mine protection.
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, that of the Humvee ECV, but all the equipment is the same as for the Swiss Eagle I.
Its combat weight reaches 5,500 kg including 1,400 of payload and meeting STANAG 4569 level I protection and STANAG 4569 Level I mine protection.
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).
Its combat weight reaches 8,400 kg including 1,650 of payload and meeting STANAG 4569 level I protection and STANAG 4569 Level I mine protection.
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.MOWAG GmbH - News & Press Releases > Roll-out of the new EAGLE IV in Kreuzlingen 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
Two Eagle IV in combat configurations are transportable by the C-130 Hercules.
Its 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 combat ready 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.
Specifications Parameters Eagle I Eagle II Eagle III Eagle IV Eagle V4×4 Eagle V6×6 Base chassisChassis based on Humvee Humvee ECV Humvee ECV Mowag Duro 2 4×4 Mowag Duro 3 4×4 /Mowag Eagle IVMowag Duro 3 6×6 Dimensions Internal volume – – – – ≤ ≤ Length Height Width(wo mirror) Wheelbase / Mass Ready for operation ≥ ≥ Payload ≤ ≤ GVM (max) ≤ ≤ ≤ Towing capacity – – – Power train Engine GM / Detroit V8 6.5l N/A (L57)(V8, turbo-diesel engine) GM / Detroit V8 6.5l N/A (L65) GM / Detroit V8 6.5l N/A (L65) Cummins ISB 250 5.9 E3(inline-six, turbo-diesel engine) Cummins ISB 6.7 E3 (inline-six, turbo-diesel engine) Cummins ISB 6.7 E3 (inline-six, turbo-diesel engine) Engine power Power / mass ratio (at GVW) (at GVW) (at GVW) (at GVW) (at GVW) (at GVW) Torque Driveline Permanent 4×4 Permanent 4×4 Permanent 4×4 Permanent 4×4 Permanent 4×4 Permanent 6×6 Transmission Hydramatic 4L80E (4-speed auto, 1 reverse) Hydramatic 4L80E (4-speed auto, 1 reverse) Hydramatic 4L80E (4-speed auto, 1 reverse) Allison 2500 SP 5 (5-speed auto, 1 reverse) Allison 2500 SP 5 (5-speed auto, 1 reverse) Allison 2500 SP 5 (5-speed auto, 1 reverse) Transfer case Low-highNew Venture Gear Type 242 Low-highNew Venture Gear Type 242 Low-highNew Venture Gear Type 242 Low-highMowag 2S 22 Low-highMowag 2S 22 Low-highMowag 2S 22 Differential Torsen (self-locking) Torsen (self-locking) Torsen (self-locking)Torsen (self-locking) Torsen (self-locking) Torsen (self-locking) Suspension Independent Independent Independent Independent suspension with de Dion stabilizer Independent suspension with de Dion stabilizer Independent suspension with de Dion stabilizer Vehicle performances Max speed (road) (legal) (max) (legal) (max) (legal) (max) ≤ ≤ ≤ Max speed (terrain) – – – ≤ ≤ ≤ Range on road () () () () () () Slope(angle) 60% (31.0°) 60% (31.0°) 60% (31.0°) 60% (31.0°) 60% (31.0°) 60% (31.0°) Side slope(angle) 40% (21.8°) 40% (21.8°) 40% (21.8°) 40% (21.8°)40% (21.8°)30% (16.7°) Ground clearance Trench – – – aaa Vertical step – – Fording depth Turning circle diameter(wall to wall) (optional 3rd steering axle: ) Protection Ballistic protection STANAG 4569 level 1 STANAG 4569 level 2 /(level 3 with optional add-on armour) Artillery protection STANAG 4569 level 1 STANAG 4569 level 2 Grenade / mine / IED protection – STANAG 4569 level 1 /(level 2a with optional add-on armour) Double V-hullSTANAG 4569 level 2a Optional protections (non-ballistic) – Fire suppression /mine protection seat /NBC protection Fire suppression /NBC protection
Prototypes and known variants in development
Based on the Eagle IV
GTV JLTV Eagle (General Tactical Vehicle JLTV): This prototype is based on the Eagle IV 4×4. GDLS offered this vehicle in the JLTV program that intended to replace the Humvee in the US Armed Forces. 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). Oshkosh won the competition with the L-ATV in August 2015. 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 for 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.
Prototype based on the Eagle V 4×4
Eagle SOF (Special Operation Forces): 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. Denmark - Tank hunter killer: Integration of the STAVS Kongsberg Protector equipped with the Spike LR2 anti-tank guided missile. The first missile was shot in January 2026.
Prototype based on the Eagle V 6×6
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: Diehl Defence and Hensoldt presented a prototype for an air defence system based on the Eagle V 6×6 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 a 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 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 Eagle V MUM-T: Vehicle presented at Eurosatory 2026, designed in collaboration with Alpha Robotics, the vehicle includes Wolf G1 UGV / Wolf C1 UGV land drones.
Operators
Current operators
Summary Operators Eagle ordered (by variant) Eagle delivered (by variant) Retired Losses(of the variantin service) In service I II III IV V(4×4) V(6×6) Total I II III IV V(4×4) V(6×6)Total 156 175 120 – 5 100 556 156 175 120 – 5 –456 -156 -3297 36 – – 90 93 – 219 36 – – 90 93 – 219 -126 0 93 – – – 495 2,786 440 3,721 – – – 495 176 1 672 0 0 672 – – – – 80 4 84 – – – – 2 1 3 0 0 3 TOTAL 192 175 120 585 2,964 544 4,580 192 175 120 585 276 2 1,350 -282 -3 1,065
Eagle I (11 former Danish Spejdervogn M/95) 1 Eagle I was seen on Social Media on the 18th of March 2023 in the city of Avdiivka (near Donetsk). Following an investigation by the Swiss authorities, it was discovered that those Mowag Eagle were the former Danish ones that were sold in 2013 to FWW Fahrzeugwerke, a German company owned by GDELS. 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 (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. New chassis and new engine, increasing its performance compared to the 93 variant, and equipped with a more powerful radio.
Eagle III (120) 120 Eagle III (SKdt Fz INTAFF gl 4×4, 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.
Eagle IV (495) Eagle IV selected in 2008 as part of the GFF Klasse 2 tender. 42 EAGLE BAT (Protected Ambulance Vehicle) 20 ordered urgently in 2009, delivered in 2011 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). The vehicles are all equipped with RCWS KMW FLW100/200. The detailed variants in use in the German Army are: PatSich (Patrouillensicherung, patrol vehicle) FüPers (Führungspersonal, vehicle for Command Staff) Instandsetzung Artillerie Führungs- und Waffeneinsatz System (Repair artillery command and weapon systems) Windmesstrupp (weather balloon squad) Spürhundetrupp Kampfmittelabwehr (K9 EOD squad) 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 mast on the roof GKT (Geländekameratrupp, terrain camera squad) Video-Aufnahmeausstattung (video recording equipment) (90) 90 Eagle IVOrder 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 (93)