The Tess Defense Industrial Consortium, led by Indrahe has made official this Wednesday of the first four Combat vehicles on wheels (VCR) 8×8 Dragon To the Ministry of Defense.
The act was held at the plant of GDELS-SANTA BÁRBARA SYSTEMSlocated in Alcalá de Guadaíra (Sevilla), where the first models of the Zapadores version (VCZ) have been assembled.
A key delivery for the modernization of the Army of Earth
Although armored ones are already owned by the Ministry of Defense, they will continue for several weeks in the hands of Tess Defense to train crews. This formative phase is essential before its deployment in the Army. It is expected that seven other units will arrive throughout April, completing the first lot of 11 VCR Dragon VCZwhich began its demanding evidence at the beginning of the year.
These essays included blasting test, electrical and electromagnetic testsas well as the validation of the ballistic protection of the vehicle. If the calendar is maintained, armored ones will begin to deploy in army units this summer.
A complex and ambitious project with a Spanish seal
Ángel Escribano, president of Indra, highlighted in the Congress of Deputies the relevance of this project. Since officially began in August 2020after a phase of selection and tests, the program has resulted in a “magnificent platform” that is already ready for its final certification.
Among its strengths, Escribano stressed the level of interconnectivity of the VCR, which integrates three different radios (Troop level, brigade and command) and satellite communication systems. In addition, the system of Situational awareness It includes multiple cameras that improve the operability of the vehicle in complex environments.
Serial manufacturing with guarantees
The gradual approach will allow to maintain quality and avoid extra costs.
The president of INDRA explained that the test phase has been long precisely to ensure that the serial production It can be faced without shocks. “The key is not to manufacture in mass without having the tuned product,” he said.
The objective is to establish a constant delivery rhythm, with new vehicles leaving the factory every few weeks. This strategy seeks to avoid the typical problems of previous programs, where mass production caused important correction costs and operational delays.
The VCR 8×8 Dragon: The armored jewel of Europe
Indra claims its platform as the most advanced in the continent.
For Notary, the VCR 8×8 Dragon represents “The best platform in Europe at this time“. The combination of protection, technology, connectivity and adaptability to different versions makes this armored a key product for the future of the Spanish defense and a reference for possible exports.
With its entry in the operational phase, the VCR 8×8 program is positioned as one of the most relevant strategic projects of the national and European defense industry.