ASCOD
The Spanish Armed Forces Pizarro variant of the ASCOD
Type	Armoured fighting vehicle (ASCOD Ulan/Pizarro)
Place of origin	Austria and Spain
Service history
In service	2002–present
Used by	See Operators
Specifications
Mass	26.3 tonnes (26,300 kg) (ASCOD Pizarro) 28 tonnes (31 short tons) (ASCOD Ulan)
Length	6.83 m (22 ft) (Pizarro/Ulan), 9.5 m (31.16 ft) (ASCOD)[citation needed]
Width	3.64 m (12 ft)
Height	2.43 m (8 ft)
Crew	3 + 8 passengers
Armor	rolled steel armor options for explosive reactive armor and composite armor
Main armament	30 mm Mauser MK 30/2 (ASCOD Ulan/Pizarro)
Secondary armament	MG3 7.62×51mm NATO (Pizarro) FN MAG 7.62×51mm NATO (Ulan/ASCOD 2)
Engine	Diesel 600 hp (Pizarro fase 1) 720 hp (Pizarro fase 2) 720 hp (Ulan)
Suspension	torsion bar and Piedrafita rotary dampers models AR01 and AR02.
Maximum speed	Road: 72 km/h

The ASCOD (Austrian Spanish Cooperation Development)^[1] armoured fighting vehicle family is the product of a cooperation agreement between Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG and Spanish General Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas. Both companies are now divisions of a unit of General Dynamics. The ASCOD family includes the LT 105 light tank equipped with a 105 mm gun, a surface-to-air missile launcher, an anti-tank guided missile launcher, mortar carrier, R&R vehicle, command-and-control vehicle, ambulance, artillery observer, and the AIFV model.

In Spanish service, the vehicle is called "Pizarro". The Austrian version is called "Ulan".

The ASCOD was designed to replace the older light armoured fighting vehicles of the Austrian and Spanish armies, such as the M113 armored personnel carrier and the Saurer APC. The Ulan, the Austrian version of the Pizarro, would provide a flexible complement to their heavy Leopard 2A4. The Ulan would allow the Austrian army to deploy rapidly and effectively over longer distances, especially for foreseeable future operations—such as trouble-spots for UN operations.^[2]

In 1982, Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug initiated the conception phase for the development of a new infantry fighting vehicle. This was followed by initial talks with the militaries of Greece, Norway and Switzerland to find the desired requirements for a new IFV. In 1985, the decision to develop a new IFV was made following the Bundesheer announcement of the military requirement for the Kampfschützenpanzer 90 (combat infantry fighting vehicle 90).^[3] Based on this, Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug started the conception of the vehicle. However, it was clear that Austria would not order new IFVs in the next years and that the development costs exceeded Steyr's budget.^[3]

Therefore, in 1988, a cooperation with the Spanish company Empresa National Santa Barbara S. A. was signed, which resulted in the development being renamed to ASCOD (Austrian Spanish Cooperative Development).^[3] Following this, the development of the ASCOD started. The hulls were manufactured in Spain. The ASCOD turrets were made by Steyr in Austria, based on the SP-30 turret design used on the scout version of the Pandur. In 1991, the first prototype was presented in 1991 in Sevilla.^[3] It was tested in 1992. Production began in 1996.^[4]

Initially, the design was a cooperation between Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG and the Hellenic ELVO, formerly Steyr Hellas, after signing the contract for the domestically contracted Leonidas 2 APC. The contract, activated in 1988, required Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG to follow Hellenic instructions, and to include parts already produced in Greece, such as the wheels, tracks, and smoke-grenade launchers based on those of the Leopard 1 tank. Also, the secondary MG-3 gun — a variant of the Mauser 30F — was constructed in Greece. Greece withdrew from the program in 1991 after a change of government, requiring Steyr-Daimler-Puch to find a new partner. The IFV in Hellenic service would have the name Alexander the Great. Greece donated its design rights to Steyr-Daimler-Puch as compensation for the 450 IFVs cancelled.^{[citation needed]}

Following the numerous changed requirements during the ASCOD's conception and development phases, the weight increased from the original 18.8 t to 25.2 t and finally 29.0 tonnes. The first prototype was trialled in Norway in 1993/94, but Norway decided to purchase the Swedish CV9030 instead.^[3] Following these trials, a slightly updated third prototype was built, essentially equalling the version offered as ASCOD to Austria, Spain and other countries. In 1994, Spain decided to order four pre-series vehicles after successful trials of the prototype. In 1996, Spain ordered 144 vehicles with the designation "Pizarro".^[3]

Austria's order for the first 112 ASCOD vehicles, "Ulan" in Austria, was delayed for financial reasons until May 1999. Four pre-series Ulan vehicles were given to the Austrian Bundesheer in April 2001 for the final qualification. The official handover happened in May 2001. In 2002, 28 Ulans were delivered. The next batch of 36 was delivered in 2003. In 2004 the order was completed.^[3] In contrast to the original prototypes, the Ulan was completely manufactured in Austria.^[3]

The ASCOD effectively brought Austrian and Spanish armour up to date. The Pizarro project was part of the greater Project CORAZA (Project Armour) to replace Spain's M113 APCs, M60A3s, and M110 artillery pieces.^[5] By 2005, the Austrian army was equipped with 112 Ulan vehicles^[2] and Spain with 144 (123 IFV and 21 C2V).^[6]

In 2004, the Spanish Ministry of Defence ordered another 212 Pizarros (170 IFV, 5 C2V, 28 artillery observation, 8 recovery, 1 engineering vehicle) for €707.5 million Euros,^[7] with up to 356 units total planned.^[8] By 2010 the cost of this second batch had increased to €845m.^[9]

The improved ASCOD 2 vehicle was chosen by the UK MoD in March 2010 as the common base platform for the Scout Specialist Vehicle, later renamed Ajax. This selection was the result of the UK's Specialist Vehicle Programme. Around 300 British engineers at General Dynamics UK's Oakdale facility began developing the Ajax from the ASCOD 2 after being awarded the contract in 2010.^[10][11] The ASCOD 2 Scout SV was to replace the CVR(T) family of vehicles, including the FV107 Scimitar, the FV103 Spartan and the FV106 Samson armoured recovery vehicle.

General Dynamics offered the ASCOD 2 in an APC configuration in the competition for the Danish M113 replacement. The ASCOD 2 was not chosen. The Danish army preferred the wheeled Piranha 5.^[12]

ASCOD entered service with the Spanish and Austrian armies in 2002.^[8] The British Army received its first ASCOD SV in 2020.^[13] Despite being part of ISAF, Spain did not deploy the Pizarro IFV owing to its lack of a mine-protection kit.

The primary version of the ASCOD is the tracked infantry-fighting vehicle. It follows a conventional layout, featuring a front-mounted engine and a rear compartment for the dismounts. The driver's seat is located at the left hull front. The commander and gunner sit in the slightly off-center–mounted two-man turret. The rear compartment has two hatches on the roof. The Ulan can carry eight dismounts.^[14] The Pizarro carries seven.^[15]

The ASCOD mounts a 30 mm Mauser MK-30/2 autocannon in a fully traversable electro-mechanical turret. The dual belt-fed 30 mm cannon, electrically stabilized on two planes, is able to fire at a rate of up to 770 rounds per minute and accurately engage targets on the move.^[3] As secondary armament, the ASCOD carries a 7.62 mm machine gun. The Spanish Pizarro is fitted with an MG-3 machine gun. The Ulan is fitted with an FN MAG. The Ulan carries 200 rounds of 30 mm and 600 rounds of 7.62 mm in the turret. A further 205 rounds for the 30 mm gun and up to 1,290 for the 7.62 mm machine gun are stored inside the hull.^[3] The Pizarro carries 300 rounds of main-gun ammunition.^[15]

This armament is comparable to that of the M2 Bradley and the CV90, and performed well in a Norwegian vehicles trial, although it ultimately lost to the Swedish CV90.

The Ulan is fitted with a digital fire-control system built by Kollsman,^[8] utilising some components of the Kürassier A2's fire control system.^[3] The gunner's sight is manufactured by Elbit and provides 8× magnification in the day channel. The integrated thermal imager, featuring 2.8× and 8.4× magnification, can be accessed by both the gunner and the commander. The commander has a fixed day-sight with 8× magnification.^[3] The Pizarro uses the Mk-10 fire control system from Indra, featuring a full-solution digital ballistic computer, day channel, thermal channel and laser rangefinder. Future versions of the Mk-10 will be fitted with a new VC2 thermal imager.^[8]

The ASCOD is constructed of several rolled steel armour plates. The armour provides protection against 14.5 mm armour-piercing ammunition fired from distances of 500 meters or more along the frontal 60° arc,^[16][17] with all-round protection against 7.62 mm ammunition.^[8] The turret is fitted with two banks of 76 mm Wegmann multi-purpose grenade launchers. These can fire smoke grenades for self-protection, or high-explosive grenades with fragmentation warhead to a maximum range of 50 metres (160 ft).^[3]

The Pizarro is additionally fitted with limited amounts of SABBLIR explosive reactive armour along the frontal arc and might be upgraded with more later.^[4] The SABBLIR reactive armour increases protection against shaped-charge warheads as used on rocket-propelled grenades. The Ulan has been fitted with MEXAS composite armour,^[18] which increases ballistic protection against up to 30 mm APFSDS rounds fired from a 1,000 m range over the forward 30° arc, and all-round protection against 14.5 mm armour piercing incendiary (API) rounds from a range of 500 m.^[3] The Ulan is fitted with spall-liners to minimise casualties in case of armour penetration.^[3]

In terms of mobility, the Spanish Pizarro is fitted with a 600 horsepower (450 kW) MTU SV-183 TE22 engine, while the Austrian Ulan includes a 720 horsepower (540 kW) MTU 8V-199-TE20 engine. These have power-to-weight ratios of 21 and 25, respectively, offering both vehicles excellent mobility. Both versions use a Renk HSWL 106C hydro-mechanical transmission, and suspension — based on torsion bars^[8] and rotary dampers — designed and manufactured by "Piedrafita".^[19]

The ASCOD uses Diehl type-129 tracks.^[20] The Pizarro has a maximum speed of 70 km/h, and a maximum reverse speed of 35 km/h.^[3][4] The ASCOD has a ground-clearance of 450 millimetres (18 in). The Ulan can accelerate from 0 to 50 kilometres per hour (31 mph) in 14 seconds. It can cross ditches of 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in), climb walls of 950 millimetres (37 in) and ford rivers of 1.2 metres (3 ft 11 in) depth. It is able to drive at 75% gradient and 40% side slope.^[3]

The ASCOD chassis has been used for a number of vehicles in Spanish service and numerous private ventures developed for the export market. Aside from the IFV version, the ASCOD has been offered as light tank and scout vehicle.^[21][22] The ASCOD Direct Fire light tank can mount a number of different commercial turrets with 105 or 120 mm tank guns. It is expected to weigh about 30 tonnes.

Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge has developed an improved version called Ulan 2. This was never ordered by the Austrian government.^[23]

An improved version of the ASCOD, called ASCOD 2, has been developed by General Dynamics and was presented in 2004. The ASCOD 2 uses the more powerful MTU 8V 199T21 engine, which provides a 600 kilowatts (800 hp) output, together with a Renk HSWL 256 B transmission and Diehl 1028 tracks.^[20] It has an increased gross vehicle weight of 38 tons, with a growth potential to 42 tons. The ASCOD 2 has been presented as an IFV (with the SP-30 turret of the original ASCOD), as an APC with a raised roof and armed with an M2 machine gun (in a BAE Lemur remote weapon station)^[24] and as a specialized APC for urban combat (designated the ASCOD PSO).^[20]

In June 2008, GDELS, in conjunction with KMW, announced Donar, a medium-weight 155 mm self-propelled artillery system based on the KMW Artillery Gun Module (AGM) autonomous artillery system, integrated with the ASCOD 2 chassis. A prototype has begun mobility and firing trials in Germany.^[25][26]

In March 2010, the UK MoD announced that ASCOD 2 will be used as the base for the Scout Specialist Vehicle of the FRES program,^[27] which was later renamed to "Ajax".

At Eurosatory 2018, General Dynamics European Land Systems presented a new variant of the ASCOD 2. The ASCOD medium main battle tank (MMBT), with a gross vehicle weight of 42 tonnes, is fitted with the Italian Leonardo Defence Systems HITFACT 120 mm turret. This is armed with a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, a 7.62 mm pintle-mounted gun and a 12.7 mm remote weapon station on the roof. The 120 mm smoothbore gun is coupled to a computerised fire control system, with the commander and gunner having stabilised day/thermal sights incorporating a laser rangefinder.^[28]

• ASCOD IFV
• Driver training vehicle – ASCOD hull fitted with a fixed superstructure instead of turret.
• ASCOD Scout/Recce – ASCOD fitted with extensive ISTAR equipment and a three-man crew.^[21]
• LT-105 Light Tank (ASCOD Direct Fire) – A light tank, designed for the export market, with a 105 mm or 120 mm gun. There are multiple turret options available, made by a different manufacturers: Oto Melara, Cockerill, General Dynamics, and Denel Land Systems (formerly known as LIW).^[29][22]
• ASCOD 2 APC – ASCOD 2 hull with a raised roof and a remote weapon station. Offered to Denmark as an M113 replacement.^[20]
• ASCOD 2 PSO – ASCOD 2 APC with improved armor protection.^[20]
• Donar – Medium-weight 155 mm self-propelled howitzer based on the KMW AGM^[8]

• ASCOD 2 MMBT – As the name suggests, it is intended as a medium main battle tank armed with either a 120 mm or 105 mm HITFACT turret.^[28]

The ASCOD vehicle was chosen by the UK MoD as the common base platform on which the Ajax would be developed. This selection was the result of the UK's Specialist Vehicle Programme. Around 300 British engineers at General Dynamics UK's Oakdale facility began developing the Scout from the ASCOD after being awarded the contract in 2010.^[10][11]

These vehicles are the replacements for the CVR(T) family vehicles: FV107 Scimitar (armoured reconnaissance), FV103 Spartan (specialist personnel carrier) and FV106 Samson (recovery vehicle).

Recce Block 2 is expected to include ambulance, engineer reconnaissance and command & control replacements for the CVR(T) FV104 Samaritan (armoured ambulance) and FV105 Sultan (command vehicle).

The Ajax is planned to include the following upgrades:^[30]

• The main weapon will be a 40 mm autocannon with "telescoped ammunition" (CT40 cannon).
• The armour will provide basic ballistic and mine protection, with upgrade add-on packages for improved protection when needed.
• The chassis will be upgraded with enhanced suspension combining torsion bars and hydraulic dampers.
• An enhanced powertrain comprising a 600 kW (805 bhp) MTU V8 199 diesel engine and Renk 256B fully automatic transmission.
• The welded turret will be built by Lockheed Martin UK.
• Assembly and testing will take place in the UK^[31]

The vehicle's normal combat weight is 34 tonnes.

The ASCOD Pizarro is built by GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas, and operated by the Spanish Army. It exists in multiple variants.^[4]

• Operational variants:
  • VCI/C Pizarro – "vehículo de combate infantería/caballería", an infantry / cavalry fighting vehicle
  • VCPC – "vehiculo de puesto de mando", a command vehicle
  • VCZ Castor – "vehículo de combate de zapadores", a sapper combat vehicle
• Planned variants that didn't enter service:
  • VCOAV – "vehiculo de observador advanzado", an advanced reconnaissance vehicle
  • VCREC – "vehiculo recuperador", an armoured recovery vehicle

The VAC [es] is the successor of the M113 TOA in the Spanish Army: It is based on the VCZ Castor chassis, it takes over the electronic architecture of the he VCR Dragón 8×8 [es], and exists in the following variants:^[32]

• PP – "portapersonal", an armoured personnel carrier
• DCC – "defensa contracarro", a tank hunter
• PC – "puesto de mando", a command post vehicle
• CPU – "carga pick-up", a cargo transport pick-up vehicle
• CB – "carga blindada", an armoured cargo transport vehicle
• PM – "mortera pesado de 120 mm", a mortar carrier
• OAV – "observador avanzado", an artillery observation vehicle
• AMB – "ambulancia", an armoured ambulance
• REC – "recuperación", an armoured recovery vehicle

The Sabrah light tank's tracked version is a new variant developed and offered by Elbit Systems for the Philippine Army's Light Tank Acquisition Project.^[33] It uses the ASCOD 2 platform with a new turret, armed with 105 mm gun developed by Elbit in partnership with Denel Land Systems.^[34] The Notice of Award (NOA) for the project was issued to Elbit Systems Land by the Department of National Defense in September 2020.^[35]

ASCOD Ulan is built by Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge. It includes a more powerful 530 kW engine, and a different fire control system built by Kollsman.^[8]

In February 2023, a modernisation of the 112 IFVs was announced.^[36] It focuses mostly on the electronic, providing new observation equipment, a digital panel for the driver. For the rest, a renewed electrical turret drive, other revisions to the electrical system and the drivetrain.

 Austria (112)

Delivered between 2001 and 2005^[37]

• 112 Ulan (IFV)

 Philippines (20)

Ten (10) units in light tank configuration and one Command Post Vehicle unit were formally received and inducted into service as of 5 March 2024.^[38][39] The total order are as follows:

• 18 Sabrah light tanks
• 1 Command vehicle
• 1 recovery vehicle

 Spain (261)

In service:^[40]

• 204 VCI/C – infantry fighting vehicles
• 21 VCPC – command and communications vehicles
• 36 VCZ – sapper combat vehicles

Details of the orders:

• Initial order of 144 Pizarro in 1996, delivery by 2002:^[40][41]
  • 123 VCI/C – infantry fighting vehicles
  • 21 VCPC – command and communications vehicles
• Second order reduced to 117 Pizarro in 2004 after several cuts, the initial order was for 212 Pizarro, delivered between 2011 and 2015:^[40][41][42]
  • 81 VCI/C (170 planned initially)
  • 36 VCZ – sapper combat vehicles, only 1 was planned initially
  • Cancelled variants with that order:
    • VCPC, 5 were planned initially
    • VCOAV – forward artillery observer vehicles, 28 were planned initially
    • VCREC – armoured recovery vehicles, 8 were planned initially

 United Kingdom (589)

The Ajax won the competition FRES in 2010, and the following variants were ordered.^[43][44]

• 245 Ajax
• 93 Ares
• 112 Athena
• 50 Apollo
• 38 Atlas
• 51 Argus

 United States (96 ordered, 504 planned)

The M10 Booker, an infantry support vehicle based on the Griffin II platform, derived from the ASCOD 2, was selected in June 2022 as the winner of the US Army's Mobile Protected Firepower program.

• 96 M10 for $1.14 billion The initial contract is for 96 vehicles with first delivery by the end of 2023. The first units are expected to be equipped with it by Q4FY25.^[45]
• Army Acquisition Objective (AAO) of 504 M10 in total^[46]

First delivery, January 2024 ^[47]

 Spain (394)

The Spanish Army signed a contract with TESS Defence for the purchase of the VAC "Vehículo de Apoyo de Cadenas" in December 2023 for around €2 billion. It is planned to succeed to the TOA M-113. ^[48][49]

Variants planned:^[49]

• Combat support
  • armoured personnel carriers
  • anti-tank defence
  • command post
  • forward observer
  • 120 mm mortar carrier (potentially the ASCOD equipped with the Escribano GMOS mortar turret)^[50]
  • sapper (VCZ Castor)
• Logistics
  • ambulance
  • cargo
  • recovery versions

 Latvia

The army decided to replace the CVR(T) with the ASCOD 2 platform. Among the competitors were the CV90, the K21 and the Tulpar.^[51]

The negotiation for the contract with GDELS SBS in November 2024 with the intention to get infantry fighting vehicles. The specifics of the variant are unknown as of 2024.^[52][53]

 Romania

Romania has a budget of $3.3 billion for 298 infantry fighting vehicles. According to local observers and public information, the potential candidates are the ASCOD 2, the Hanwha AS-21 Redback, and the Rheinmetall KF-41 Lynx. The award procedure is ongoing, a winner will be selected in 2024, and the contract should also be signed in 2024. ^[54]

 Spain (109)

The Spanish Army is looking for a successor to the M109A5.^[55] The total desired is of 36 wheeled self-propelled howitzers, and 109 tracked howitzers. GDELS-SBS is offering the Piranha Advanced Artillery Carrier (Piranha IV) and the ASCOD 2 platforms on which the RCH-155 modules would be installed.^[55]

 Ukraine

GDELS SBS presented a plan in June 2024 to manufacture 50 ASCOD infantry fighting vehicles per year for the Ukrainian Army.^[56]

This plan follows a meeting between industry representatives and the Spanish state. In May 2024 a defence agreement between Spain and Ukraine led to this offer. ^[56]

Also, in September 2023, an agreement was made between GDELS and LLC Ukrainian Armored Vehicles for a potential licence production of the ASCOD in Ukraine, after having visited the production facilities in Spain and tested the ASCOD.^[57]

 United States

A separate program to MPF, the US Army is looking for a successor to the M2 / M3 Bradley. The program for its replacement is the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle. The Griffin platform from General Dynamics was selected as one of 2 finalists, against the KF-41 Lynx of Rheinmetall. The Pentagon signed a contract for the detailed design of both vehicles, expecting the manufacturing of 7 to 11 prototypes to start in 2025 for the trials. The winner will be chosen in 2027, and would be expected to enter service in 2029. The procurement is expected to reach $45 billion. ^[58]

 Czech Republic

General Dynamics European Land Systems offered the ASCOD to replace aging BMP-2s. GDELS announced in May 2017 that it had formed partnerships with 5 Czech companies to underpin its bid.^[59][60] In December 2018, ASCOD was shortlisted together with the Puma, CV90 and Lynx.^[61] In July 2022, the Czech Government began negotiations with the Swedish Government for the procurement of CV90MkIV infantry fighting vehicles. The negotiations for the new infantry fighting vehicles will be coordinated with Slovakia who had also recently selected the CV90 MkIV.^[62][63]

 Denmark

In 2014 the Royal Danish Army trialled the G5 as a replacement for is ageing fleet of M113-based vehicles, in a competition against the Nexter VBCI 8x8, BAE Systems-Hägglunds CV90 Armadillo, General Dynamics European Land Systems(GDELS) Santa Bárbara Sistemas ASCOD 2 and the GDELS-Mowag Piranha 5s 8x8. In May 2015 the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistic Organisation announced the Piranha 5s as the successful candidate.^[64]

• List of armoured fighting vehicles by country

• General Dynamics European Land Systems - ASCOD AFV
• Technical data sheet and pictures Spanish Pizarro from ArmyRecognition.com
• The Ulan (ASCOD) in the Austrian Armed Forces - technical data and pictures
• Spain's Ministry of Defence
• ¿INFANTERÍA MECANIZADA?