Eurosatory 2024: Escribano’s Remote Weapon Systems to Upgrade GDELS Vehicles.

On June 18, 2024, during the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris, General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) and Escribano Mechanical and Engineering (EME) formalized an agreement to jointly develop opportunities in the defense sector. The announcement was made at the EME booth, where an ASCOD Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) equipped with a Guardian 30 remote weapon system was displayed, representing the cooperative intentions of both companies.
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The announcement was made at the EME booth, where an ASCOD Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) equipped with a Guardian 30 remote weapon system was displayed, representing the cooperative intentions of both Escribano and GDELS (Picture source: Army Recognition)

GDELS and Escribano plan to leverage their respective product portfolios in this partnership. GDELS' offerings include tracked and wheeled armored vehicles such as the ASCOD, Pandur, and Piranha, while Escribano contributes its advanced remote weapon stations, including the Guardian 30 and Guardian 2.0. This collaboration aims to explore and promote joint opportunities, enhancing European defense capabilities and securing supply chains.

Antonio Bueno, President of GDELS, stated that the leading positions, complementary capabilities, and expertise of GDELS and Escribano qualify both companies to explore closer cooperation on future defense projects. Dr. Thomas Kauffmann, GDELS Vice President, emphasized support for Escribano in expanding its business to a European and international level.

Javier Escribano, CEO of Escribano, highlighted the combined industrial competence of the two companies as a foundation for exploring and realizing advanced defense systems. He expressed confidence that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will facilitate the development of new technological solutions and strengthen the cooperation between GDELS and Escribano.

General Dynamics European Land Systems designs, manufactures, and maintains a range of products, including wheeled armored vehicles such as Piranha, Pandur, Eagle, and Duro, and tracked armored vehicles like the ASCOD. Additionally, GDELS produces amphibious bridges, ferry systems, and artillery systems. The Piranha is a widely-used wheeled armored vehicle, with over 12,000 units in service across more than 20 countries. The ASCOD family, with more than 1,000 units in service in four nations, includes various configurations such as infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), armored personnel carriers (APC), command posts, reconnaissance vehicles, and more.

The ASCOD (Austrian-Spanish Cooperative Development) modular design allows adaptation for various roles including IFV, APC, command post, and reconnaissance. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The ASCOD (Austrian-Spanish Cooperative Development) is a family of armored fighting vehicles developed by Austria and Spain to modernize their armed forces. Development began in the early 1990s, with the first prototypes trialed in Norway. Although not selected by Norway, the design was refined and ordered by Spain and Austria. Spain's variant, known as the Pizarro, and Austria's Ulan were introduced into service in the early 2000s. The vehicle's modular design allows adaptation for various roles including IFV, APC, command post, and reconnaissance.

The ASCOD is equipped with a 30mm Mauser MK 30-2 automatic cannon and a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. Its turret is fully stabilized and integrated with a digital fire control system, ensuring accuracy on the move. The vehicle offers robust protection, with the option to add Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks, and includes a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) protection suite. Its high mobility is provided by a powerful diesel engine, enabling speeds up to 70 km/h and a range of 500 km. The ASCOD's modularity and adaptability, along with a comprehensive support and maintenance framework, make it suitable for a range of military operations.

Escribano's Guardian 30 turret is an advanced, gyro-stabilized weapon system that features a 30mm MK44S Bushmaster Chain Gun, with an adaptable option for a 40mm cannon, and a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Escribano's Guardian 30 turret is an advanced, gyro-stabilized weapon system designed for armored vehicles. It features a 30mm MK44S Bushmaster Chain Gun, with an adaptable option for a 40mm cannon, and a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. The system's 2-axis stabilization enhances operational versatility for both day and night missions. The Guardian 30 integrates a next-generation ballistic calculator for long-range accuracy and features a modular design that reduces the radar footprint. It can also be equipped with up to 12 smoke launchers and integrates various missiles, sensors, and an active protection system (APS) to enhance combat capabilities.

The Guardian 30 is in service in various countries in Europe and the Middle East, with over 800 units sold since its 2020 launch. It includes sophisticated electro-optical systems such as a cooled infrared camera with a detection range of 19.1 km, a laser range finder accurate to ±1 meter up to 15 km, and a day sight camera with 30x optical zoom. These systems enable target detection and identification at long ranges. The turret offers an elevation range from -20° to 60° and unlimited 360° azimuth rotation, with stabilization below 0.2 mrad. Weighing under 1250 kg (excluding weapons and ammunition), it also features fire zone inhibition, GPS integration, and compatibility with external C4I systems. The Guardian 30's automatic tracking, customizable configurations, and low maintenance requirements make it adaptable for diverse combat scenarios.