Escribano's remote weapon systems to upgrade GDELS vehicles

On June 18, 2004, during the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris, General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) and Escribano Mechanical and Engineering (EME) formalized an agreement to jointly develop opportunities in the defense sector. The announcement was made at the EME stand, where an ASCOD infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) equipped with a Guardian 30 remote weapon system was displayed, representing the cooperation intentions of the two companies.
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The announcement was made at the EME stand, where an ASCOD infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) equipped with a Guardian 30 remote weapon system was on display, representing the cooperative intentions of Escribano and GDELS. (Photo source: Army Reconnaissance)

GDELS and Escribano plan to leverage their respective product portfolios through this partnership. GDELS' offerings include tracked and wheeled armored vehicles such as the ASCOD, Pandur and Piranha, while Escribano offers its advanced standoff weapon stations including the Guardian 30 and Guardian 2.0. This collaboration aims to explore and promote joint opportunities, strengthen European defense capabilities and secure supply chains.

Antonio Bueno, president of GDELS, said the leadership positions, complementary capabilities and expertise of GDELS and Escribano allow the two companies to explore closer cooperation on future defense projects. Dr. Thomas Kauffmann, vice-president of GDELS, highlighted the support given to Escribano in the expansion of its activities at European and international level.

Javier Escribano, CEO of Escribano, highlighted the combined industrial competence of the two companies as a basis for the exploration and realization of advanced defense systems. He expressed confidence that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will facilitate the development of new technological solutions and strengthen cooperation between GDELS and Escribano.

General Dynamics European Land Systems designs, manufactures and services a range of products including wheeled armored vehicles such as Piranha, Pandur, Eagle and Duro, and tracked armored vehicles such as the ASCOD. Additionally, GDELS produces amphibious bridges, ferry systems and artillery systems. The Piranha is a widely used wheeled armored vehicle, with over 12,000 units in service in over 20 countries. The ASCOD family, with more than 1,000 units in service in four countries, includes various configurations such as infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), armored personnel carriers (APC), command posts, vehicles recognition, etc.

The ASCOD (Austro-Spanish Cooperative Development) modular design allows for adaptation to various roles including IFV, APC, Command Post and Reconnaissance. (Photo source: Army Reconnaissance)

The ASCOD (Austrian-Spanish Cooperative Development) is a family of armored combat vehicles developed by Austria and Spain to modernize their armed forces. Development began in the early 1990s, with the first prototypes tested in Norway. Although not selected by Norway, the design was refined and commissioned by Spain and Austria. The Spanish variant, known as the Pizarro, and the Austrian Ulan were fielded in the early 2000s. The vehicle's modular design allows adaptation to various roles including IFV, APC, command post and reconnaissance.

The ASCOD is equipped with a 30mm Mauser MK 30-2 automatic cannon and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. Its turret is fully stabilized and integrated with a digital fire control system, guaranteeing precision on the move. The vehicle provides robust protection, with the ability to add explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks, and includes a nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection suite. Its great mobility is ensured by a powerful diesel engine, allowing speeds of up to 70 km/h and a range of 500 km. The modularity and adaptability of the ASCOD, together with a comprehensive support and maintenance framework, make it suitable for a range of military operations.

Escribano's Guardian 30 turret is an advanced gyro-stabilized weapon system that features a 30mm MK44S Bushmaster chain-mounted machine gun, with an adaptable option for a 40mm cannon and a 7.62mm co-axial machine gun. (Photo source: Army Reconnaissance)

Escribano's Guardian 30 turret is an advanced gyro-stabilized weapon system designed for armored vehicles. It includes a 30mm MK44S Bushmaster chain machine gun, with an adaptable option for a 40mm cannon, and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The system's 2-axis stabilization improves operational versatility for day and night missions. The Guardian 30 incorporates a next-generation ballistics computer for long-range accuracy and features a modular design that reduces the radar footprint. It can also be equipped with up to 12 smoke launchers and integrates various missiles, sensors and an active protection system (APS) to improve combat capabilities.

The Guardian 30 is in service in various countries in Europe and the Middle East, with over 800 units sold since its launch in 2020. It features sophisticated electro-optical systems such as a cooled infrared camera with a detection range of 19.1 km, a laser rangefinder precise to ± 1 meter up to 15 km and a daytime sight camera with 30x optical zoom. These systems enable the detection and identification of targets at long range. The turret offers an elevation range of -20° to 60° and unlimited 360° azimuthal rotation, with stabilization less than 0.2 mrad. Weighing less than 1,250 kg (excluding weapons and ammunition), it also features fire zone inhibition, GPS integration and compatibility with external C4I systems. The Guardian 30's auto-tracking, customizable configurations, and low maintenance requirements make it adaptable to various combat scenarios.