MADRID, Aug. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Spanish
Ministry of Defense today awarded a €1.74 billion (USD $2.06 billion) contract to a joint venture of
General Dynamics European Land Systems-Santa Bárbara Sistemas
(GDELS-SBS) and three other companies to deliver 348 8x8
Wheeled Combat Vehicles (VCR), their maintenance and life cycle
support, as well as support their international commercialization.
The GDELS-SBS contract is for €733 million (USD $870 million).
The program is expected to grow to a total of approximately
1,000 vehicles.
The vehicle, named "Dragón" by the Spanish Army, is based on the
GDELS 8x8 PIRANHA 5's combat wheeled vehicle and includes all
Spanish national technologies as required by the Spanish MoD. It is
expected to be delivered over a seven-year period.
"We sincerely thank the Spanish Ministry of Defense for its
confidence in our vehicle platform, our engineering, and industrial
capabilities," said Juan Escriña, GDELS Vice President for Tracked
Vehicles & Artillery and Managing Director of GDELS-Santa
Bárbara Sistemas. "As a reliable partner, GDELS-Santa Bárbara
Sistemas is truly proud to help the Spanish Army protect Spanish
soldiers and improve its strategic mobility with state-of-the-art
8x8 wheeled combat vehicles," Escriña adds.
The GDELS-SBS joint venture (JV) will manufacture the 8x8 VCR at
GDELS sites in Trubia and Seville,
Spain, with the collaboration of the other Spanish JV
members. The JV members include GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas, Indra
Sistemas, Sapa Placencia, and Escribano Mechanical &
Engineering. The Spanish Ministry of Defense mandated a National
Industrial plan in which Spanish industry participation must be no
less than 70% of the total program. The JV was established to
ensure that all operational objectives and needs of the Spanish
Army and the Spanish Ministry of Defense are fully met and to
fulfill the requirements of the government's industrial plan.
GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas program participation will involve
approximately 650 direct and 1,100 indirect employees.
About the PIRANHA 5
The PIRANHA 5 is one of the most
advanced and capable 8x8 wheeled armored vehicles and the top end
of the PIRANHA vehicle family. In addition to its high level of
protection, the PIRANHA 5 has a flexible and spacious crew
compartment and significant payload capacity. The vehicle's
inherent growth potential ensures the ability for future upgrades
and technology insertion over the vehicle's lifetime. In terms of
mobility and maneuverability, the PIRANHA 5, with its efficient
all-wheel drive, hydro-pneumatic suspension, and 4th axle steering,
sets the top standard in this vehicle class. The PIRANHA family of
vehicles is the most successful wheeled armored vehicle family -
more than 11,500 PIRANHAs are in service worldwide.
About GDELS
General Dynamics European Land Systems,
headquartered in Madrid, Spain, is
a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) and conducts its
business through five European operating sites located in
Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland. With approximately 2,200 highly
skilled technical employees, the companies design, manufacture, and
deliver world-class land combat systems, including wheeled,
tracked, and amphibious vehicles, bridge systems, and
armaments, to global customers. More information
www.gdels.com.
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SOURCE General Dynamics European Land Systems