General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) has handed over four ASCOD Castor armored combat vehicles to the Spanish Army at their Santa Bárbara Sistemas factory in Seville, Spain.
The delivery is part of the second phase of the army’s Pizarro program, which seeks to bolster Madrid’s engineering units by acquiring advanced and modern capabilities.
Shortly after the handover ceremony, the vehicles were transported to Zaragoza, Burgos, and Madrid for full implementation into the army’s Armored Systems Maintenance Park and Center.
In total, GDELS has delivered 10 Castor vehicles to Spain, and 26 more are scheduled for transfer this year.
The ASCOD Castor
Designed as a light tank capable of leveling and clearing obstacles, the ASCOD Castor is equipped with surface-to-air missile launchers and anti-tank guided missiles.
Spain’s Pizarro variant is equipped with a 30 mm Mauser MK 30/2 autocannon and an FN MAG machine gun that uses 7.62x51mm NATO cartridges.
The vehicle is crewed by three people and can host up to eight more passengers, protecting its soldiers with rolled steel armor.
Outside of combat, it can be fitted with a bulldozer blade, plow, heavy mine-clearing system, and other modular features for use in clearing operations.
