European Re-armament: GDELS-SBS Reactivates Artillery Cannon Manufacturing Capabilities.

General Dynamics European Land Systems - Santa Bárbara Sistemas (GDELS-SBS) announced on June 11, 2024, the reactivation of its large-caliber cannon manufacturing capabilities at its Trubia site in the Asturias region, northwest Spain. This move responds to the increased demand for modern and efficient artillery, particularly in Europe due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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In recent years, GDELS-SBS has produced over two hundred 120mm gun barrels for the Spanish Army's Leopard 2E main battle tanks, and more than one hundred barrels for its SIAC 155/52 howitzers.  (Picture source: Ejército de Tierra)

Founded over 200 years ago, the Trubia factory has a long-standing tradition and extensive expertise in artillery system manufacturing. It has recently produced a wide range of large-caliber cannons, including 120mm, 105mm, and 155mm cannons for main battle tanks and artillery systems.

Juan A. Escriña, General Director of GDELS-SBS, highlighted the renewed importance of artillery and main battle tanks based on operational experience from current military confrontations. He also noted that GDELS-SBS is one of the few European companies that have retained the knowledge and capabilities necessary to manufacture highly demanded calibers for both weapon systems.

In recent years, GDELS-SBS has produced over two hundred 120mm gun barrels for the Spanish Army's Leopard 2E main battle tanks, more than one hundred barrels for its SIAC 155/52 howitzers used in both field and coastal artillery, and dozens of barrels for the 105mm Light Guns, models L118 and L119.

GDELS-SBS is the only Spanish company and one of the few globally capable of manufacturing, maintaining, and modernizing artillery systems to meet today's stringent standards. The company's long history, continuous innovation, and deep knowledge of artillery systems and armored vehicles ensure ongoing compliance with the evolving demands of the battlefield and position GDELS-SBS as a benchmark for effectively meeting legitimate customer expectations in terms of quality and operational performance.

Additionally, the SIAC towed howitzer, a 155/52 caliber piece, is equipped with self-propelled capabilities thanks to its integrated Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). This advanced design meets the stringent requirements of modern field artillery and coastal defense. It features rapid deployability, excellent first-round hit probability, and a quick "shoot and scoot" capability for enhanced survivability.

The SIAC incorporates an Automatic Gun Laying System (AGLS), a Digital Navigation Aiming and Pointing System (DINAPS), and a Fully Automatic Ramming System (FIRS), optimizing battlefield performance. The system also integrates with other indirect weapon systems and is compatible with all NATO-compatible ammunition, offering ranges up to 60 km.