{"id":58109,"date":"2024-12-17T22:22:13","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T21:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=58109"},"modified":"2025-12-17T01:44:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T00:44:47","slug":"the-problems-of-the-spanish-vcr-dragon-8x8-armoured-vehicle-a-project-under-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2024\/12\/17\/the-problems-of-the-spanish-vcr-dragon-8x8-armoured-vehicle-a-project-under-threat\/","title":{"rendered":"The problems of the Spanish VCR Drag\u00f3n 8x8 armoured vehicle: a project under threat?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Dragon 8x8 Wheeled Combat Vehicle (RCV) is becoming a controversial program in the Spanish Army.<\/p>\n

The new VCR Drag\u00f3n armored vehicle of the Spanish Army and the controversy over its size<\/a><\/rel>
\nThe delivery of the first Dragon VCRs to the Spanish Army: this is how these vehicles are<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n

Yesterday, the latest misfortune of this vehicle became known: the request for discharge from the destination by the colonel assigned by the Ministry of Defense for this program<\/strong>, according to Infodefensa<\/a>, which adds that at the moment it is not yet known when this military commander will finally leave his post as representative of the General Directorate of Armament and Materials (DGAM) in that program. According to El Confidencial Digital, the colonel would have resigned after refusing to sign for the receipt of the first vehicles<\/a>, as he concluded that the 11 vehicles that were to be delivered shortly do not meet the requirements<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This news comes amid a worrying situation: according to the aforementioned website, Tess Defense<\/a> (the consortium in charge of manufacturing the VCR Drag\u00f3n) has not managed to deliver any<\/strong> of the 94 vehicles planned for this year<\/a>. A delivery that not only includes its manufacture, but also the verification that each vehicle complies with the stated requirements. A verification that, for the moment, has not been confirmed by the Ministry of Defense.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The VCR Dragon is becoming a problematic program. Let us remember that the process to develop it began in 2007<\/strong>, with the purpose of replacing the already old BMR M1<\/strong> armored personnel carriers of the Spanish Army, as well as the VEC M1<\/strong> cavalry vehicles and part of the fleet of M-113<\/strong> armored personnel carriers.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The programme has been very delayed. The first 40 vehicles were scheduled for delivery in 2014<\/strong>, and the entire fleet will be completed in 2016, totalling 300 units. The possible acquisition of a foreign model<\/strong> was considered, considering alternatives such as the Swiss MOWAG Piranha V<\/strong> (a more modern variant of the Piranha IIIC used by the Spanish Marines), the Finnish Patria AMV<\/strong> (from which the Polish KTO Rosomak is derived), the Italian VBM Freccia<\/strong> and the German GTK Boxer<\/strong>, among others. After an initial selection of three models, the programme was cancelled in 2010<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Finally, in 2013 the program was restarted with the aim of making a Spanish version of the Piranha V<\/strong>, through a temporary union of several companies. Finally, after many delays, in December 2022, 12 vehicles were delivered<\/a>: 7 of the sapper version and the 5 demonstrators used for the program tests.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In 2018, the government of Pedro S\u00e1nchez authorized the construction of 348 VCR Drag\u00f3n vehicles<\/a>. Time went by, and at the end of August 2020, the delivery of that first batch was signed<\/a> for an amount of 1.74 billion euros. The delivery period would be seven years.<\/strong> A second phase of 365 vehicles was left open, to be delivered between 2026 and 2030, and a third phase with 285 vehicles to be delivered between 2031 and 2035. According to the Ministry of Defense in September 2022, this project would generate more than 8,700 jobs.<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

One of the things that has drawn attention to these vehicles is their large size and weight<\/strong>. Two years ago I pointed out here<\/a> that in terms of size, the VCR Dragon shares a trend among vehicles of its type<\/strong>, as the Boxer CRV, the Patria AMV, the Chinese Type 08, the Israeli Eitan AFV, the Turkish Otokar Arma, the Russian VPK-7829 Bumerang, the French VBCI, and the American Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) are also very bulky vehicles, compared to older models<\/strong> (such as the BMR, LAV-25, and others).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The biggest problem with the Spanish vehicle is its weight. As I mentioned then, the ramp of the A400M transport aircraft can only support a weight of 32 tonnes<\/a>, a limit that the VCR Drag\u00f3n would exceed by 3 tonnes<\/strong>. This would considerably limit the operability of this vehicle. Recall that Germany already had a similar problem with the Boxer in 2020<\/a>. Being a modular vehicle, to transport two Boxers the Luftwaffe would need three A400Ms: two to carry the vehicles and another to transport the two mission modules.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Lately, some media have been making up alleged rumours about the cancellation of the programme<\/strong>, following the 9 million fine imposed by the Ministry of Defence on the manufacturing consortium<\/a> in September of this year for delays in deliveries. Personally, I don't think the programme will be cancelled, as it is already very advanced and this vehicle is very necessary<\/strong> in the Army. It is a very advanced weapons system and has been a very ambitious project. Of course, delays in deliveries are something outrageous<\/strong>, but unfortunately that is something that is already part of the tradition of the Spanish defence industry.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The problem, in fact, is not only the Dragon VCR, but the image we give to the world<\/strong> with constant delays in programs such as the S-80 submarine. It is not my purpose to discuss economic and labor issues here, but of course the Spanish defense industry has to get its act together if it wants to be competitive<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

---<\/p>\n

Photos: Tess Defense<\/a>.<\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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