Receiving of the latest 15 'Pizarro' Infantry/Cavalry combat vehicles in Seville

The receiving, on behalf of the Spanish Army, of the latest 15 "Pizarro" phase II Infantry and Combat vehicles (VCI/C) took place at the General Dynamics European Land Systems-Santa Bárbara Systems factory, the centre where the armoured vehicles are to be integrated, in Alcalá de Guadaira (Seville), last week.

The receiving of the vehicles, carried out by the Programme Office, was attended by a comission of the Ministry of Defence General Arms and Equipment Managament, led by the asisstant director of the Programmes Management, as well as various commands of the Spanish Army.

In 2011, with the aim of renewing the Special Arms Programme, the planned supply of the "Pizarro" system was reduced to 117 standard vehicles and two prototypes. Within those, 83 are combat units for Infantry and Cavalry, which have just been released, and another 36 are specifically for Combat Engineers (VCZAP). The prototype of these is currently in the design phase and they estimate it will be available for classification tests in January 2019. Consequently, its release will take place between 2019 and 2021.

The phase two "Pizarro" incoporate improvements and technological innovations, such as transmission of the latest generation developed by the Spanish company SAPA. Furthermore, the main feature of the new VCZAP, designed and developed internally by Santa Bárbara Systems, is the incorporation of the ASCOD hull that offers better mine and balistic protection.

With the release complete, the Spanish Army now has four Mechanised Battalions equipped with "Pizarro" VCI/C.