The ASCOD 2 SV is an armoured infantry fighting vehicle designed and manufactured by Steyr now General Dynamics European Land Systems. The ASCOD 2 (in Austria named ULAN and in Spain Pizarro) is a tracked armored vehicle in the class of 30 to 35 tons. The development of the ULAN began under the name ASCOD (Austrian-Spanish Cooperative Development) as a joint cooperation between General Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas of Spain and Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH. The ASCOD company consists of the Austrian Company, Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug AG & Co AG and the Spanish company, Santa Barbara Sistemas. Following extensive trials with prototype vehicles, the Spanish government placed the first contract for the Pizarro early in 1996. The first prototype (PT01) was completed in 1990, with the turret and chassis being built in Austria and systems integration taking place in Spain. Prototype 2 was completed in 1992, and the last prototype was built in Spain in 1994, baseline for the Spanish army version. The ASCOD 2 SV is a modern, highly agile Infantry Fighting Vehicle that can be adapted to meet the reconnaissance requirement with the stretch potential to meet other FRES SV roles. General Dynamics UK is under contract with the UK MoD to adapt the vehicle to meet the capability. The total FRES fleet requirement is, once again, under review. FRES UV remains high on the Army's priorities. ASCOD 2 SV has been designed to a rating of 42 tonnes, and incorporates a fully proven transmission rated at 45 tonnes. This means the load carrying ability of ASCOD SV meets the full Future Rapid Effects System Specialist Vehicles (FRES SV) requirement now and won't require a major upgrade programme to deliver all the variants. ASCOD 2 SV offers new levels of protection, from one common-base platform which can meet the whole of the requirement. ASCOD 2 turret is designed by Lockheed Martin UK INSYS, specifically for the British Army's scout role. In June 2010, less than 11 months after the UK Scout / Specialist Vehicle (SV) Demonstration Phase contract was signed, the Industry Team led by General Dynamics UK has demonstrated impressive progress on the programme. The Team has conducted live-fire tests of the new Cased Telescoped (CT40) cannon system integrated in the very first Scout SV Turret, five months ahead of schedule. In July 2011, Little over a year since signing the Specialist Vehicle (SV) contract between the UK Ministry of Defence and General Dynamics UK, the first test version of the reconnaissance variant, Scout, has begun to take shape with the successful joining of the Experimental Demonstration Unit (EDU) turret to a “mule” base platform at the first attempt.
The vehicle's main armament is a 30mm dual-feed, gas-operated Mauser MK 30-2 automatic cannon with a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. Two banks of six Wegmann 76 mm smoke/fragmentation grenade launchers are mounted either side of the turret, firing forwards. Turret control is electro-mechanical and the turret is fitted with a turret drive stabilization system from Curtiss-Wright Controls of Gastonia, North Carolina. Lockheed Martin UK has been selected as one of the only UK-based companies with the knowledge, skills and experience to integrate the 40mm Case Telescopic Weapon System, mandated as the cannon system for FRES SV and the Warrior Lethality uplift programmes. The large turret-ring diameter of 1.7m is wider than older vehicles such as Warrior, and the design increases space further by placing the main ammunition feed under armour outside the turret crew compartment.
Protection
The ASCOD 2 SV system design withstood a number of attacks from the latest mine threats in its base configuration. The system also enables enhanced levels of blast protection to be fitted, enabling protection against greater threats and providing the Army with the ability to adapt rapidly to evolving operational scenario. ASCOD SV offers the latest protection against current and future threats, a common-base-platform that fully meets the FRES SV requirement, and provides the best growth potential for future enhancement.
Propulsion
The ASCOD 2 SV uses an upgrade chassis of the Ulan/Pizarro armoured infantry fignting vehicle. The Ascod 2 SV is motorised with an MTU 600 kW 8V engine coupled to a Renk 256B transmission. Suspension is of the torsion bar and trailing arm type with seven dual rubber-tired road wheels either side, drive sprocket at the front, idler at the rear and three track-return rollers. The upper part os the suspension is protected with armour plates. In June 2011, Less than 11 months after the UK Scout / Specialist Vehicle (SV) Demonstration Phase contract was signed, the Industry Team led by General Dynamics UK has demonstrated impressive progress on the programme. The Team has conducted live-fire tests of the new Cased Telescoped (CT40) cannon system integrated in the very first Scout SV Turret, five months ahead of schedule.
Accessories
THE ASCOD 2 SV will be equipped with the last technologies of defense system and firing control system.
Specifications
Armament
One 40 mm gun, one coaxial machine gun 7.62 mm calibre
Country users
FRES Program
Designer Company
General Dynamics UK
Accessories
?
Crew
3+ 7 soldiers
Armor
Front 14.5 mm and 7.62 mm firing all around of hull and turret. Add-on armour, IED protection
