General Dynamics European Land Systems was awarded €733m ($870m) of a €1.74bn contract for 348 Spanish 8×8 combat vehicles. Credit: PRNewsfoto / General Dynamics European Land Systems.

Spain has placed a €1.74bn ($2.06bn) contract to procure 348 8×8 Dragon Wheeled Combat Vehicles (VCR).

The contract was awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Defense (MoD) to a joint venture (JV) of General Dynamics European Land Systems-Santa Bárbara Sistemas (GDELS-SBS), as well as three other companies.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Work will also include maintenance and lifecycle support of the vehicles and support for their international commercialisation.

For GDELS-SBS, the contract is valued at €733m ($870m). The JV includes GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas, Indra Sistemas, Sapa Placencia, and Escribano Mechanical & Engineering.

GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas managing director Juan Escriña said: “We sincerely thank the Spanish Ministry of Defense for its confidence in our vehicle platform, our engineering, and industrial capabilities.

“As a reliable partner, GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas is truly proud to help the Spanish Army protect Spanish soldiers and improve its strategic mobility with state-of-the-art 8×8 wheeled combat vehicles.”

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Based on the GDELS 8×8 PIRANHA 5’s combat wheeled vehicle, the Dragon vehicle is equipped with all national technologies as required by the Spanish Ministry of Defense.

The GDELS-SBS JV will manufacture the Dragon vehicles at GDELS sites in Trubia and Seville in Spain, in collaboration with other partners.

Local industry participation will be at least 70%, as mandated in the Spanish MoD’s National Industrial plan.

The deliveries are expected to be made over a seven-year period.

Later, the programme may be expanded to a total of around 1,000 units.

Earlier this year, MASA Group delivered its constructive simulation software, SWORD, for the Spanish Army’s National Training Centre.