The
ASCOD (
Austrian
Spanish
Cooperation
Development)
AFVAn armoured fighting vehicle is a military vehicle, protected by armour and armed with weapons. AFV's can be wheeled or tracked.Armoured fighting vehicles are classified according to their intended role on the battlefield and characteristics. This classification is not absolute; at different times...
family is the product of a cooperation agreement between Austrian
Steyr-Daimler-Puch AGSteyr-Daimler-Puch was a large manufacturing conglomerate based in Steyr, Austria which was broken up in 1990. The component parts and operations continued to exist under separate ownership and new names.- History :...
(in 1998 the production of heavy armed vehicles was sold out under the name
Steyr-Daimler-Puch SpezialfahrzeugSteyr-Daimler-Puch was a large manufacturing conglomerate based in Steyr, Austria which was broken up in 1990. The component parts and operations continued to exist under separate ownership and new names.- History :...
, which is now the producer) and
SpanishSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.
[The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though España , Estado español and Nación española are used interchangeably...]
Santa Bárbara SistemasGeneral Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas is a Spanish defense company, based in Madrid, Spain. The company is responsible for the assembly of heavy vehicles such as the Spanish Army's Leopard 2E main battle tank and the Pizarro infantry combat vehicle....
(now a unit of
General DynamicsGeneral Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. The company has changed markedly in the post-Cold War era of defense consolidation. The company has four main business segments:...
). The ASCOD family includes the LT 105, a light tank equipped with a 105 mm
gunIn military parlance, a gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm...
, a
SAMA Surface to Air Missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft. It is a type of anti-aircraft system....
launcher, an Anti-tank
missileA missile is a self-propelled projectile used as a weapon. Missiles are typically propelled by rockets or jet engines. Missiles generally have one or more explosive warheads, although other weapon types may also be used...
launcher,
mortarA mortar is a muzzle-loading indirect fire weapon that fires shells at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It typically has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber.- Function :...
carrier, R&R vehicle, Command & Control vehicle,
ambulanceAn ambulance is a vehicle for transporting sick or injured people, to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury. The term ambulance is used to describe a vehicle used to bring medical care to patients outside of the hospital or to transport the patient to hospital for follow-up...
, artillery observer, and the AIFV model.
The
ASCOD (
Austrian
Spanish
Cooperation
Development)
AFVAn armoured fighting vehicle is a military vehicle, protected by armour and armed with weapons. AFV's can be wheeled or tracked.Armoured fighting vehicles are classified according to their intended role on the battlefield and characteristics. This classification is not absolute; at different times...
family is the product of a cooperation agreement between Austrian
Steyr-Daimler-Puch AGSteyr-Daimler-Puch was a large manufacturing conglomerate based in Steyr, Austria which was broken up in 1990. The component parts and operations continued to exist under separate ownership and new names.- History :...
(in 1998 the production of heavy armed vehicles was sold out under the name
Steyr-Daimler-Puch SpezialfahrzeugSteyr-Daimler-Puch was a large manufacturing conglomerate based in Steyr, Austria which was broken up in 1990. The component parts and operations continued to exist under separate ownership and new names.- History :...
, which is now the producer) and
SpanishSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.
[The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though España , Estado español and Nación española are used interchangeably...]
Santa Bárbara SistemasGeneral Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas is a Spanish defense company, based in Madrid, Spain. The company is responsible for the assembly of heavy vehicles such as the Spanish Army's Leopard 2E main battle tank and the Pizarro infantry combat vehicle....
(now a unit of
General DynamicsGeneral Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. The company has changed markedly in the post-Cold War era of defense consolidation. The company has four main business segments:...
). The ASCOD family includes the LT 105, a light tank equipped with a 105 mm
gunIn military parlance, a gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm...
, a
SAMA Surface to Air Missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft. It is a type of anti-aircraft system....
launcher, an Anti-tank
missileA missile is a self-propelled projectile used as a weapon. Missiles are typically propelled by rockets or jet engines. Missiles generally have one or more explosive warheads, although other weapon types may also be used...
launcher,
mortarA mortar is a muzzle-loading indirect fire weapon that fires shells at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It typically has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber.- Function :...
carrier, R&R vehicle, Command & Control vehicle,
ambulanceAn ambulance is a vehicle for transporting sick or injured people, to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury. The term ambulance is used to describe a vehicle used to bring medical care to patients outside of the hospital or to transport the patient to hospital for follow-up...
, artillery observer, and the AIFV model. In Spanish service the vehicle is called Pizarro, while the Austrian version is called Ulan.
Development history
The ASCOD was designed to replace the older light armoured fighting vehicles of the Austrian and Spanish armies, such as the M113
armoured personnel carrierAn armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
. The Ulan, the Austrian version of the Pizarro, would provide a flexible compliment to their heavy
Leopard 2The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979. The Leopard 2 replaced the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and twelve other European...
A4. The Ulan would allow the Austrian army to deploy rapidly and effectively over longer distances, especially for foreseeable future operations - such as troubled spots for UN operations. The first prototype of the ASCOD IFV was ready and tested by 1992 and production was possible only four years later. The ASCOD was a very modern solution to bring both the Austrian and Spanish armour up to date. To put this into perspective, the Pizarro project was a part of the greater Project CORAZA (Project Armour) which was to replace Spain's M113 APCs,
M60A3sThe M60 Series was a main battle tank introduced in December 1960. It was widely used by the U.S. and its Cold War allies, especially those in NATO, and remains in service throughout the world today despite being superseded by the M1 Abrams...
, and
M110M110 or M-110 may refer to:* M110 155mm Projectile, a U.S. Army chemical artillery shell* Mercedes-Benz M110 engine, a 2.8L engine produced from 1973-1986* Messier 110 , an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Andromeda...
artillery pieces. A similar upgrade program was also concurrently underway in Austria. By 2005 the Austrian army was equipped with 112 Ulan vehicles and Spain with 144 (123 IFV and 21 C2V). In 2004 the Spanish Ministry of Defence ordered another 212 Pizarros (170 IFV, 5 C2V, 28
ArtilleryArtillery is a military combat Arm that employs weapons capable of discharging large projectiles in combat. They are generally capable of adding considerable fire power to the military capability of an armed force...
observation, 8 recovery, 1
EngineeringA military engineer is primarily responsible for the design and construction of offensive, defensive, and logistical structures for warfare. Other duties include the layout, placement, maintenance and dismantling of defensive minefields and the clearing of enemy minefields and the construction...
vehicle) for 707.5 million Euros, with up to 900 units total planned.
The Pizarro mounts a 30 mm
MauserMauser is a German arms manufacturer of a line of bolt-action rifles and pistols from the 1870s to present. Their designs were built for the German armed forces, but have been exported and licensed to a number of countries since the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as well as being a...
cannon in a fully traversable electro-mechanical turret. The 30 mm cannon, stabilized on two planes, is able to fire on the move at a rate of up to 800 rounds per minute. It also carries a 7.62 mm machine gun as a secondary armament, carrying up to 205 rounds for the 30 mm gun and 700 for the 7.62 mm machine gun. This armament is comparable to that of the
M2 BradleyThe M2 Bradley IFV and M3 Bradley CFV are American infantry fighting vehicles manufactured by BAE Systems Land and Armaments, formerly United Defense....
and the CV90, and performed well in a
NorwegianNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a country in Northern Europe occupying the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, as well as Jan Mayen and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard under the Spitsbergen Treaty...
vehicles trial, although it ultimately lost to the
SwedishSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe...
CV90. The gun uses the Mk-10 fire control system from
Indra, which has 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. The ASCOD Pizarro is also very well armoured, with a thick steel armour casing protected against up to 14.5 mm bullets at 500 meters, with all around protection against 7.62 mm ammunition. Furthermore, the turret has two
grenade launcherA grenade launcher is a weapon that launches a grenade with more accuracy, higher velocity, and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand....
s on either side to fire
smoke grenadeSmoke grenades are canister-type grenades used as ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signaling devices, target or landing zone marking devices, or a screening devices for unit movements. Smoke grenades are normally considered non lethal, although incorrect use may cause injury or fatality...
s. The Pizarro is also fitted with limited amounts of SABBLIR reactive armour and might be upgraded with more later. However, with appliqué steel plates fitted it can be protected against 30 mm
armour-piercing discarding sabotThe Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot is a type of kinetic energy projectile fired from a gun to attack armoured targets. APDS rounds were commonly used in large calibre tank guns, but have now been superseded by APFSDS projectiles. APDS rounds are commonly used in small or medium calibre weapon...
s (APDS).
Additional ballistic protection is available against up to 30mm APFDS (Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot) rounds fired from a 1,000m range over the forward 60° arc, and all round protection against 14.5mm armour piercing incendiary (API) rounds from a range of 500m.
In terms of mobility, the Spanish Pizarro is fitted with a engine, while the Austrian Ulan includes a engine. The smaller Spanish engine gives it a power to weight ratio of 21, and the larger engine one of 25, offering both vehicles excellent mobility. Both versions use a
RenkRENK AG is a German company, part of the MAN group. It has its headquarters in Augsburg and is producer of gears, other components of propulsion technology and test systems. It is currently the leading manufacturer of transmissions for tracked vehicles worldwide and a major supplier for marine...
HSWL 106C hydro-mechanical transmission, and torsion bar suspension. The Pizarro can go a maximum speed of 70 km/h, and a maximum reverse speed of 35 km/h.
Currently Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge is developing an improved version called Ulan 2, which features the Russian BMP-3 turret and additional armour.
In June 2008, GDELS, in conjunction with KMW, announced Donar, a medium-weight 155 mm self-propelled artillery system based on the KMW
PzH 2000The Panzerhaubitze 2000 , abbreviated PzH 2000, is a German 155 mm self-propelled howitzer developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall for the German Army. The PzH 2000 is one of the most powerful conventional artillery systems currently deployed...
artillery system integrated with the ASCOD 2 chassis. A prototype has begun mobility and firing trials in Germany.
Deployment History
There have been at least 112 units deployed in the Austrian Army, as well as around 143 deployed with the Spanish Army. It has been deployed to Kosovo in Operation Alfa-Romeo, where they disembarked at Durrës,
AlbaniaAlbania , officially the Republic of Albania , is a Mediterranean country in South Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Montenegro to the north, Kosovo to the northeast, Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south-east...
. They have also been publicly displayed during the National Day Parade in Madrid. It's very likely that they will be deployed to future UN and NATO operations throughout the world.
Variants
- Pizarro - Spanish version of the IFV
- Ulan - Austrian version of the IFV
- LT-105 Light Tank - A light tank, designed for the export market, with a 105 mm gun. 15 have been sold to the Royal Thai Marine Corps
The Royal Thai Marine Corps The Royal Thai Marine Corps The Royal Thai Marine Corps ( are the marines of the Royal Thai Navy, the corps was founded in 1932 when the first battalion was formed with the assistance of the USMC. It expanded to a regiment in 1940 and was in action against communist...
. The turret was designed by General Dynamics.
- VCOAV - (Vehículo de Observación Avanzada) Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle
- VCREC - Recovery vehicle
- VCZ - Engineering vehicle
- Donar - Medium 155mm SPA based on the KMW PzH 2000
The Panzerhaubitze 2000 , abbreviated PzH 2000, is a German 155 mm self-propelled howitzer developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall for the German Army. The PzH 2000 is one of the most powerful conventional artillery systems currently deployed...
ASCOD is also being considered for the
British ArmyThe British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England and Scotland and...
, to fulfill the reconnaissance element of the
FRESFRES may refer to:*a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society of London*Flesch Reading Ease Score, see Flesch–Kincaid readability test*Forest-Range Environmental Study Ecosystems*Future Rapid Effect System-See also:...
vehicle order (approx 1000 vehicles).
External links