Spain Launches €261M Modernization of Pizarro Infantry Fighting Vehicles to Advance Army Fleet

Spain has launched a €261 million program to modernize its fleet of Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), aiming to extend their operational life and improve combat effectiveness. The initiative will introduce enhancements in protection, mobility, digitization, and command-and-control systems across the Spanish Army’s tracked armored vehicle fleet.

Scope and Objectives of the Pizarro Upgrade Program

The modernization effort targets 190 Pizarro Phase I and II vehicles in service with the Ejército de Tierra (Spanish Army). The program was formally approved by Spain’s Council of Ministers in late September 2025 and is expected to run through 2030. The primary contractor is General Dynamics European Land Systems-Santa Bárbara Sistemas (GDELS-SBS), which originally developed the vehicle under the ASCOD (Austrian-Spanish Cooperative Development) program.

The upgrade aims to address obsolescence issues while aligning the fleet with NATO interoperability standards. Key focus areas include:

• Enhanced ballistic and mine protection
• New digital vetronic architecture
• Upgraded fire control and sensor systems
• Improved situational awareness for crew
• Mobility improvements including powerpack upgrades

Pizarro IFV Background: Spain’s Variant of ASCOD

The Pizarro is Spain’s domestically designated version of the ASCOD family of tracked armored vehicles developed jointly by Austria’s Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH and Spain’s Santa Bárbara Sistemas in the early 1990s. While Austria fields its variant as the Ulan IFV, Spain inducted its first batch of Pizarros into service in 2003.

The vehicle weighs approximately 26 tonnes (baseline configuration) and is armed with a stabilized Oerlikon Contraves TC-25 turret mounting a Mauser MK-25/50mm chain gun. It can transport up to seven dismounts plus three crew members. Its modular design allows for multiple variants including command post (VCPC), reconnaissance (VCREC), forward observer (VCOAV), recovery (CRECUP), mortar carrier (VCMZ), and combat engineer versions.

Despite its robust baseline performance during deployments in Afghanistan under ISAF missions, evolving threats—especially from anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and improvised explosive devices—have exposed vulnerabilities that now drive this modernization push.

Key Technical Upgrades Underway

The core technical enhancements under the €261 million package include:

Protection Suite Overhaul

Pizarros will receive upgraded passive armor packages designed to counter medium-caliber kinetic threats as well as shaped-charge warheads. Additionally, underbelly reinforcement will improve resistance against mines and IEDs. While not confirmed officially yet, sources suggest integration options for active protection systems (APS) are being evaluated for future phases.

Digital Architecture & Vetronics

A new open-architecture vetronic system will replace legacy analog subsystems. This includes a digital backbone enabling integration with modern C4ISR networks such as BMS-Lince or NATO Link-16 gateways. The upgrade also facilitates plug-and-play capability for future sensors or EW modules.

Sensors & Situational Awareness

The commander’s panoramic sight and gunner optics will be upgraded with high-resolution thermal imagers coupled with laser rangefinders. A driver vision enhancement system using day/night cameras will also be installed. These upgrades align with NATO STANAG standards for target acquisition timelines.

Mobility Enhancements

A revised powerpack—likely an upgraded MTU diesel engine paired with an improved transmission—is expected to increase reliability while supporting higher gross vehicle weight due to added armor. Suspension modifications are also planned to preserve off-road mobility across diverse terrain profiles typical in Spanish operational theaters.

Tactical Implications for Spanish Mechanized Brigades

The upgraded Pizarros are intended primarily for deployment within Spain’s mechanized brigades such as “Brigada ‘Guadarrama’ XII” or “Brigada ‘Aragón’ I”, where they serve alongside Leopard 2E main battle tanks. Enhanced C4ISR connectivity will allow these formations better integration into joint-force operations including NATO exercises like Trident Juncture or Defender Europe.

• Improved survivability enables longer standoff distances against ATGM-equipped adversaries
• Digital C2 integration enhances real-time coordination between infantry squads and supporting fires
• Sensors allow faster target engagement cycles critical in urban or hybrid warfare environments

This modernization aligns closely with Spain’s broader Force-35 transformation roadmap aimed at building a more agile expeditionary force capable of network-centric operations by mid-2030s.

Industrial Base Impact & GDELS Role

The program reinforces GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas’ role as a strategic defense industrial partner within Spain’s land systems sector. Most upgrade work will occur at GDELS facilities in Alcalá de Guadaíra (Seville) and Trubia (Asturias), supporting hundreds of jobs directly while sustaining subcontractor networks across regions such as Galicia and Castilla y León.

This also positions GDELS favorably ahead of potential export opportunities involving ASCOD-based platforms—particularly if lessons from this modernization feed into next-generation offerings like the Dragón VCR wheeled vehicle family or future tracked solutions co-developed under European defense initiatives like PESCO’s Integrated Modular Unmanned Ground System (iMUGS).

Conclusion: Extending Relevance Amid Evolving Threats

The €261 million investment into upgrading Spain’s aging but proven Pizarro IFVs reflects both operational necessity and strategic foresight. By enhancing protection levels, digitizing command systems, improving mobility components, and integrating advanced sensors—the Spanish Army ensures that these platforms remain viable assets on tomorrow’s battlefield through at least the mid-2030s.

This move not only strengthens national defense capabilities but also reinforces domestic industrial resilience while keeping pace with allied modernization trajectories across Europe.