General Dynamics Secures €733 Million for Spanish 8×8 Combat Vehicle Project in Landmark €1.74 Billion Contract
The Spanish Ministry of Defense has today granted a €1.74 billion (USD $2.06 billion) agreement to a consortium involving General Dynamics European Land Systems-Santa Bárbara Sistemas (GDELS-SBS) along with three additional firms to supply 348 8×8 Wheeled Combat Vehicles (VCR), along with their upkeep and life cycle assistance, as well as backing their global marketing efforts. The GDELS-SBS agreement amounts to €733 million (USD $870 million).
The initiative is projected to expand to a total of roughly 1,000 vehicles.
The vehicle, designated “Dragón” by the Spanish Army, is derived from the GDELS 8×8 PIRANHA 5’s combat wheeled platform and integrates all required Spanish national technologies as specified by the Spanish MoD. Delivery is anticipated over a span of seven years.
“We genuinely appreciate the Spanish Ministry of Defense for its trust in our vehicle platform, our engineering, and industrial expertise,” stated Juan Escriña, GDELS Vice President for Tracked Vehicles & Artillery and Managing Director of GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas. “As a dependable collaborator, GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas takes immense pride in assisting the Spanish Army in safeguarding Spanish personnel and enhancing its strategic mobility with innovative 8×8 wheeled combat vehicles,” Escriña elaborated.
The GDELS-SBS consortium (JV) will fabricate the 8×8 VCR at GDELS facilities in Trubia and Seville, Spain, in conjunction with the other Spanish JV partners. The JV partners include GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas, Indra Sistemas, Sapa Placencia, and Escribano Mechanical & Engineering. The Spanish Ministry of Defense has mandated a National Industrial plan stipulating that Spanish industry must constitute no less than 70% of the entire program. The JV was formed to guarantee that all operational objectives and necessities of the Spanish Army, along with the Spanish Ministry of Defense, are comprehensively fulfilled, and to adhere to the governmental industrial plan’s stipulations.
GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas’ program involvement will engage roughly 650 direct and 1,100 indirect personnel.
About the PIRANHA 5
The PIRANHA 5 stands as one of the most sophisticated and capable 8×8 wheeled armored platforms and represents the peak of the PIRANHA vehicle lineage. Alongside its exceptional protective features, the PIRANHA 5 encompasses a versatile and roomy crew compartment, as well as substantial payload capability. The vehicle’s innate growth potential secures opportunities for future enhancements and technology integration throughout its service life. In terms of mobility and maneuverability, the PIRANHA 5, equipped with its effective all-wheel drive, hydro-pneumatic suspension, and 4th axle steering, establishes the highest benchmark in this vehicle category. The PIRANHA family is recognized as the most successful series of wheeled armored vehicles, with over 11,500 PIRANHAs actively deployed worldwide.
