GDELS displays ASCOD 2 with manned turret at NATO Days in Prague.

For several years, General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) has been a partner of popular NATO Days and the Czech Air Force. This year, the company displayed another version of its ASCOD 2, fitted with a manned turret.

GDELS ASCOD 2 with a manned turret at the NATO Days 2019 in Prague (Picture source: Armadny Noviny)

In recent years, GDELS has been focusing its presentation at the NATO Days on the ASCOD 2. This time, it displayed a new version of this vehicle with a manned turret, labeled as a technology demonstrator. The manufacturer introduced it to the experts at the 6th Ground Forces Commanders Forum in Europe last week in Prague.

GDELS was one of the partners of the Ground Forces Commander's Forum and its participation is linked to the involvement of GDELS in the current modernization processes in European armies. GDELS participates with its ASCOD 2 in several tenders for tracked armored vehicles, namely for the Czech armed forces. The Ajax program also sees GDELS, with British companies and partners from other countries, aiming at supplying the British army with nearly 600 vehicles built on ASCOD 2 chassis in the coming years. Spanish and Austrian branches are currently developing and manufacturing new Pizarro vehicles on the same platform.

In the case of the introduction of the ASCOD 2 platform in the Czech army, GDELS would rely on the involvement of Czech companies, hence its will to extend the links and cooperation already existing. For example, Czech companies have been involved in the manufacture of 6x6 Pandur EVO vehicles for Kuwait, or the supply of Piranha 5 components to Romania and Denmark.

Regarding the ASCOD 2 project for the Czech Army, GDELS envisages the involvement of VOP as a system integrator. At this year's IDET, GDELS representatives already signed MoUs with several Czech companies that could participate in the production and delivery of ASCOD 2s to the Czech Army. Similarly, GDELS established contacts with Czech scientific institutions and universities, such as the faculties of mechanical and electrical engineering of the Czech Technical University, the Brno research center CEITEC or VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava.

GDELS ASCOD 2 with unmanned turret (Picture source: Army Recognition)