Spanish industry team seals 8x8 combat vehicle deal
An industry team led by General Dynamics European Land Systems- Santa Bárbara Sistemas (GDELS-SBS) is to manufacture an initial 348 Dragon 8x8 VCR wheeled combat vehicles for the Spanish Army, under a €1.74 billion ($2.06 billion) deal announced by the Spanish MoD on 25 August.
Workshare for GDELS-SBS accounts for €733 million of the overall contract value.
The contract also includes product maintenance and lifecycle support, as well as potential export activities.
Dragon is based on the GDELS 8x8 Piranha V vehicle, but it will include ‘Spanish national technologies as required by the Spanish MoD’, the company noted. According to Shephard Defence Insight, the type of turret to be integrated on the vehicle has yet to be determined.
GDELS-SBS will be supported by Spanish companies Indra Sistemas, Sapa Placencia, and Escribano Mechanical & Engineering. This aligns with Spanish government policy that national companies must have at least 70% workshare in the programme.
The first 348 vehicles will be delivered over seven years, although the Spanish requirement could grow to 1,000 vehicles in two further production batches.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Israel brings down drones using a laser, claiming operational first]()
Israel brings down drones using a laser, claiming operational first
The announced successful deployment of a prototype laser foreshadows Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ plans to begin rolling out versions of its Iron Beam laser, beginning later this year.
-
![Hanwha contracted to further develop long-range missile defence radar]()
Hanwha contracted to further develop long-range missile defence radar
The new Multi-Function Radar (MFR) is being developed under Phase II Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM-II) and is planned to provide three to four times greater coverage than the earlier version of L-SAM.
-
![Improved British Army Javelin launcher passes milestone as more missile orders placed]()
Improved British Army Javelin launcher passes milestone as more missile orders placed
Almost US$2 billon has been placed in orders for the Javelin anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) in the past 18 months with the British Army just announcing firing of its Lightweight Command Launch Unit (LWCLU) over an extended range.
-
![Canada unveils plans for mobile artillery]()
Canada unveils plans for mobile artillery
Canada did deploy the US M109 155mm/39 cal tracked self-propelled artillery system as its only mobile weapon for many years but these were finally declared surplus in 2005.
-
![German MARS III tests Kongsberg NSM]()
German MARS III tests Kongsberg NSM
Germany is looking to expand its artillery capability and like other countries is looking to improved costal defence.
