Will Spain approve the delivery of 50 ASCOD IFVs to Ukraine?.

According to El Comercio on June 24, 2024, Santa Bárbara Sistemas (SBS) has proposed to the Spanish Ministry of Defense the production of up to fifty ASCOD Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) within a year to support Ukraine. This offer follows a meeting on March 18, 2024, between the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, and representatives of the Spanish defense industry, including the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles.
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Santa Bárbara Sistemas, the Spanish branch of GDELS, indicated it could have the fifty ASCOD units ready within a year, leveraging its experience from past programs such as the Pizarro for Spanish troops and the Ajax for the British Army, which is nearing completion. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

During this meeting at Moncloa, Sánchez reaffirmed Spain's support for Ukraine and called on the defense industry to contribute to the European Defense Industrial Strategy. He also announced a forthcoming security agreement for Ukraine, which was signed two months later in Madrid by Sánchez and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, promising Kyiv one billion euros in military aid. Sánchez highlighted the importance of timely military aid delivery to Ukraine and encouraged companies to submit their proposals to the Government.

In response, Santa Bárbara Sistemas offered to supply up to fifty tracked ASCOD fighting vehicles to Ukrainian forces within a year. The Spanish Government has not yet responded to this offer. Other companies have also submitted proposals; for example, Arquimea has offered its Q-SLAM-40 kamikaze drone system.

Santa Bárbara Sistemas indicated it could have the fifty ASCOD units ready within a year, leveraging its experience from past programs such as the Pizarro for Spanish troops and the Ajax for the British Army, which is nearing completion. The company aims to avoid delays by focusing on manufacturing an existing vehicle model. The ASCOD vehicles are produced at the Trubia factory, where the entire production cycle occurs, from cutting metal to final assembly and weapon system integration. Additionally, the company has a tracked armored vehicle production line at the cannon factory capable of producing up to fifty more units of an existing model.

Defense programs usually require several years to implement after a contract is signed, but Santa Bárbara Sistemas' proposal includes a commitment to expedited delivery. Despite this commitment, the Government has not yet responded to the initiative. Neither the Ministry of Defense nor Santa Bárbara Sistemas have made public statements on the matter. Ukraine has been interested in the ASCOD for several months; in October 2023, Ukrainian Armor announced that it was in negotiations with General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) to produce ASCOD infantry fighting vehicles in Ukraine under license.

The ASCOD's armament is highly modular, ranging from a 12.7mm machine gun for the APC variant to the 105mm gun seen in the Sabrah variant used by the Philippine Army, as well as a 30mm cannon for the IFV variant. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Developed by General Dynamics European Land Systems and Santa Bárbara Sistemas, the ASCOD (Austrian Spanish Cooperation Development) platform is designed with a modular architecture, allowing for multiple configurations, including infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, command posts, and light tanks. The platform can be customized to meet specific operational needs. It features a high power-to-weight ratio, advanced suspension systems, and comprehensive protection systems, which can be upgraded to meet future threats. The vehicle's survivability is enhanced by its monocoque steel hull construction and optional active protection systems, providing defense against ballistic threats up to NATO STANAG 4569 Level 4, suitable for deployment in combat zones with high mine and IED threats, common in eastern Ukraine.

Furthermore, the ASCOD's armament is highly modular, ranging from a 12.7mm machine gun for the APC variant to the 105mm gun seen in the Sabrah variant used by the Philippine Army, as well as a 30mm cannon for the IFV variant. In the future, this platform will also be equipped with the Spanish Guardian 30 turret from Escribano, which features a 30mm MK44S Bushmaster Chain Gun, with an adaptable option for a 40mm cannon, and a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. Powered by either an MTU V8 or a Scania V8 engine, the ASCOD can achieve speeds of up to 72 km/h and has a range of 500 km. These features ensure the ASCOD is well-suited for the varied topography of Ukraine, which includes urban areas, forests, and open plains.