PARIS \u2014 Defense manufacturers eyeing a possible Spanish order for a new 6-wheeled armored vehicle flocked to Madrid this week for the biannual Feindef defense show, presenting new designs or agreeing to work together on armor for the country\u2019s land forces.<\/p>\n
Spain\u2019s Technology & Security Developments and Grupo Oes\u00eda, Turkey\u2019s FNSS Savunma Sistemleri and Belgium\u2019s John Cockerill Defense signed a memorandum of understanding to provide a six-wheeled cavalry vehicle for the Spanish Army, the companies said in a joint statement on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
TDS, Oes\u00eda, FNSS and John Cockerill said they aim to offer the Spanish Army an off-the-shelf solution, with local logistics support and life cycle management. Their offer is specifically designed for cavalry operations and providing fire support for expeditionary forces, the four firms said.<\/p>\n
Spain\u2019s Ejercito de Tierra operates the 6×6 BMR<\/a>, a more than four decades-old 15-ton vehicle built by Santa B\u00e1rbara Sistemas, now part of General Dynamics European Land Systems, or GDELS. The army is replacing at least part of its wheeled fleet with the 8×8 Drag\u00f3n<\/a>, a heavier and more expensive vehicle that\u2018s faced delivery delays and which local media report<\/a> has suffered mechanical issues.<\/p>\n Indra acquired a majority stake in the consortium that makes the Drag\u00f3n in October, buying shares<\/a> from partners GDELS, SAPA and Escribano Mechanical and Engineering, or EM&E.<\/p>\n Separately, Spain\u2019s EM&E presented the Ferox 6×6<\/a> armored vehicle at Feindef, after an agreement in February with NIMR Automotive, a unit of the United Arab Emirates\u2019 EDGE, to build six-wheeled armored vehicles in Spain. The agreement provides for transfer of knowledge and \u201cprogressive national industrialization\u201d of the vehicle, with design authority in Spain, EM&E said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis vehicle marks the beginning of a new stage for EM&E Group in the field of armored vehicles,\u201d Chief Executive Fernando Fern\u00e1ndez said.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Rheinmetall and Indra on Tuesday announced a memorandum of understanding to cooperate<\/a> on armored-vehicle projects for the Spanish armed forces.<\/p>\n With the MoU, the companies \u201cstart a strong alliance to support the efforts of the Spanish Armed Forces to modernize their fleet of combat vehicles,\u201d said Eduardo Veen Martinez, the CEO of Rheinmetall\u2019s tactical vehicles business unit.<\/p>\n For its part, GDELS presented its Pandur 6×6 EVO armored vehicle at the defense show in Madrid, with the company saying its presence as Feindef reflects a \u201cfirm commitment\u201d to the Spanish armed forces and the government\u2018s defense industrial strategy.<\/p>\n