As Spain modernizes its land forces, the procurement of a new generation six-wheeled armored vehicle is on the agenda, and defense industry companies have entered into competition for this potential large order. The biennial Feindef defense fair held in Madrid this week has become an important platform where new designs for the needs of the Spanish army were exhibited and cooperation agreements were signed.
Technology & Security Developments (TDS) and Grupo Oesía from Spain, FNSS Defense Systems from Türkiye and John Cockerill Defense from Belgium have signed a strategic partnership to meet the Spanish army's need for a 6-wheeled cavalry vehicle. The four companies announced that they aim to provide the Spanish army with a ready and comprehensive solution with local logistics support and lifecycle management. It was stated that this partnership is focused specifically on cavalry operations and providing fire support to expeditionary forces.
Spain’s land forces, the Ejercito de Tierra, currently use 40-ton 15x6 BMR armored vehicles, manufactured by Santa Bárbara Sistemas, part of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), which have been in service for more than 6 years. The army is trying to replace at least part of its wheeled fleet with the heavier and more costly 8x8 Dragón vehicles, which have been plagued by delivery delays and mechanical problems reported in local media. In this context, Spanish defense giant Indra took a majority control in October by purchasing a stake in the consortium that manufactures the Dragón, which includes partners GDELS, SAPA and Escribano Mechanical and Engineering (EM&E).
Separately, Spain’s own defence industry company EM&E has unveiled its own design, the Ferox 6x6 armoured vehicle, for the first time at the Feindef trade fair, following an agreement signed in February with NIMR Automotive, part of the United Arab Emirates’ EDGE group, to produce six-wheeled armoured vehicles in Spain. EM&E stressed that the agreement ensures technology transfer and the “progressive national industrialisation” of the vehicle, meaning that design authority remains in Spain. Fernando Fernández, EM&E Group’s Chief Executive Officer, said the Ferox 6x6 “symbolises the beginning of a new era for EM&E Group in the field of armoured vehicles”.
Meanwhile, German defense giant Rheinmetall and Spanish technology and defense company Indra announced on Tuesday that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on armored vehicle projects for the Spanish armed forces. Eduardo Veen Martinez, CEO of Rheinmetall’s tactical vehicles business unit, stated that with this MoU, the companies “start a strong alliance to support the Spanish Armed Forces’ efforts to modernize its combat vehicle fleet.”
Finally, GDELS also introduced its Pandur 6x6 EVO armored vehicle, developed at the defense fair in Madrid, to Spanish authorities and potential customers. Company officials said that their participation at the Feindef fair reflected a “firm commitment” to the Spanish armed forces and the government’s defense industry strategy. While competition for the Spanish army’s new 6x6 armored vehicle tender is expected to intensify, the contacts and collaborations established at the Feindef fair seem to play an important role in shaping the tender.
