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FEINDEF 2025: The Valkyrie UGV Autonomous Amphibious Vehicle at the Heart of Spain’s Armada 2050 Vision.
Spanish company SASCorp unveiled at FEINDEF 2025 a new version of its heavy amphibious unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), known under the names Tellus or Valkyrie. Initially introduced as a prototype in 2021, the system is designed for amphibious landing operations without onboard personnel and is part of the Spanish Navy’s technological vision under the strategic Armada 2050 program.
As shown in the photos, the vehicle features no turret, no offensive optical sensors, and no remote weapon station, suggesting a configuration focused on logistics or reconnaissance roles (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The prototype presented in 2021 featured ambitious specifications. It was a modular 6x6 UGV with hybrid propulsion, combining a 350-horsepower Jaguar turbodiesel engine with a lithium-ion battery, offering 8 to 10 hours of operation in hybrid mode and a 3 km range in electric-only mode. It incorporated two Castoldi waterjets, enabling propulsion at sea at a speed of 6 knots. On hard ground, it could reach up to 40 km/h and carry a payload of up to 4.3 tons (gross vehicle weight of 7.5 tons), compared to 1.8 tons in amphibious configuration (5.5 tons GVW).
A key element of the original concept was its modular approach to armament. SASCorp indicated that the system could be equipped with weapons ranging from a 7.62 mm machine gun to a 30 mm automatic cannon, potentially mounted on a remote weapon station. Additional armor was also planned to protect up to STANAG 4569 Level 4.
In comparison, the version displayed at FEINDEF 2025 appears more industrially mature but unarmed. As shown in the photos, the vehicle features no turret, no offensive optical sensors, and no remote weapon station, suggesting a configuration focused on logistics or reconnaissance roles. It retains its large six-wheel layout, similar dimensions, and the two rear-mounted waterjets for amphibious propulsion. The applied camouflage and the addition of new communication antennas indicate a more advanced stage of system maturity in this pre-operational configuration.
This version likely represents a frontline configuration without combat capabilities, focused on autonomous transport, reconnaissance, or obstacle clearance in coastal environments. This setup may correspond to a validation phase for autonomous navigation functions, prior to any integration of a weapon module in later iterations.
SASCorp, a company specialized in scientific simulation and the validation of platforms exposed to high-energy events (such as mines, IEDs, and RPGs), continues to refine this heavy UGV for potential use by Spanish forces. The Tellus/Valkyrie is designed to be launched from a landing craft at a distance from shore, then to autonomously reach the beach and continue its mission without exposing personnel to risk.
This concept aligns with evolving doctrines for amphibious operations, where unmanned systems take the lead in securing landing zones and preparing the terrain for human forces. The Armada 2050 program, within which this development is positioned, seeks precisely this kind of technological transformation, integrating automation, autonomous decision-making, and enhanced personnel protection.
The lack of weaponry on the 2025 model should not be seen as a regression, but rather as a step in a phased approach toward integrating combat modules. In its current configuration, the vehicle already demonstrates capabilities for the autonomous projection of heavy platforms in both amphibious and terrestrial environments.