Spain’s Pizarro vehicle requires cold climate enhancements
Spain’s Pizarro tracked armoured vehicle requires a number of technical enhancements in order to make it suited for operations in harsh weather conditions, it has emerged.
Manufactured by General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), the Pizarro is the Spanish derivative of the Austrian Spanish Cooperation Development (ASCOD) multipurpose platform. GDELS has identified a number of design defects in the Pizarro/ASCOD IFV which affect the platform’s effectiveness while operating in winter conditions.
The most critical flaws are related to frozen material being stuck to the undercarriage, lack of proper grip of tracks on the ice, electronic systems’ failures in the turret,
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Land Warfare
-
![First gun barrels for British Army howitzers due from Rheinmetall’s new UK factory in 2027]()
First gun barrels for British Army howitzers due from Rheinmetall’s new UK factory in 2027
The new Rheinmetall facility will supply barrels for UK RCH 155 howitzers and Challenger 3 tanks while also opening up potential export opportunities, providing a currently absent national capability.
-
![Germany increases Arrow missile defence deal to $6.1 billion as American interest grows]()
Germany increases Arrow missile defence deal to $6.1 billion as American interest grows
Germany’s move to buy Israel Aerospace Industries’ Arrow missile defence system became public in mid-2023 with approval from the US government shortly after. The first operational system is expected to be in service before 2030.
-
![Sweden’s recent air defence spend tips to $6 billion with 2026 procurement planned]()
Sweden’s recent air defence spend tips to $6 billion with 2026 procurement planned
Procurement of various short-range systems will begin in the first quarter of 2026, with additional procurements to be made later in the year.
