General Dynamics European Land Systems – Santa Bárbara Sistemas (GDELS-SBS) has showcased two new variants of the successful family of ASCOD tracked armored vehicles: the Light Tank LT105 and the Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV).
The formal presentation took place at the GDELS-SBS exhibition booth (Hall 10, D-01) on May 17. The ASCOD Light Tank was exhibited at the stand, the ASCOD ARV in the static exhibition area “C” of Pavilion B, together with the “CASTOR” Engineering Combat Vehicle (VCZAP) of the Spanish Army.
“The innovation and flexibility of the Multipurpose Common Platform concept that defines and characterizes the design of the ASCOD/PIZARRO family of vehicles favors the constant evolution and integration of advanced and disruptive technologies, and a quick and flexible adaptation to the requirements of each client”, affirmed Juan Escriña, Managing Director of GDELS-SBS and Vice President of Tracked Vehicles and Artillery of GDELS. In this sense, he added that the two new variants have been developed in record time, taking advantage of earlier lessons learned and the commitment to permanent innovation of GDELS-SBS that reinforces Spain’s position as a benchmark for this type of tracked combat vehicles.
Escriña stressed that very few countries in the world have the national and autonomous capacity offered by GDELS-SBS in the design, development, manufacturing and integral maintenance of next-generation armored vehicles. “ASCOD is an excellently protected platform, configurable for all kinds of specific tasks and missions, and operable within a capability network to efficiently manage force multipliers and mission systems in a multi-domain environment,” he emphasized.
More than 1,000 ASCOD vehicles are currently in service or under contract with the Armed Forces of four nations: Spain, Austria, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines.
ASCOD Light Tank (LT)
The new light tank version of the ASCOD is equipped with a modern 105mm turret from Elbit Systems that combines high firepower with a light platform. The vehicle meets the highest international standards in terms of protection and retains the excellent mobility that has always been the hallmark of ASCOD, nationally and internationally. This new variant provides a flexible solution to the growing need for medium-weight vehicles (≤MLC 50) with sufficient firepower, and, at the same time, all-terrain manoeuvrability and strategic deployability to any theatre of operations.
ASCOD Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV)
The ASCOD Armored Recovery Vehicle is a modern, versatile, and protected solution to maintain, recover and repair medium-weight combat vehicles on today’s battlefields. Equipped with a stabilization system, a crane, a winch and a dozer blade, the ASCOD ARV offers the highest capability for repair operations on a medium-weight platform (≤MLC 50).
Engineering Combat Vehicle VCZAP “CASTOR”
The VCZAP “CASTOR” is going to provide unique capabilities to the engineer units of the Spanish Army. Equipped with a flexible automated system, enabling the installation of different missionspecific equipment into a single vehicle (dozer blade, mine plow, self-protection combat roller and obstacle marker system). The vehicle presented at FEINDEF is the first of 36 contracted VCZAP units. It complements the different variants already delivered as part of Phases I and II of the PIZARRO program with a total of 227 vehicles.