General Dynamics European Land Systems – Santa Bárbara Sistemas (GDELS-SBS), the Spanish subsidiary of GDELS, has successfully completed the first training in operations, driving and maintenance of the ASCOD LT105 light tank for members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the company announced on 14 February 2024.
The training courses, which were held at Camp O’Donnell military base in the municipality of Capas (Tarlac) on the island of Luzon, took place between 24 January and 9 February 2024 for personnel of the First Tank Battalion of the Philippine Army’s First Armored Division as well as specialists from the Philippine Army’s Armored Vehicle Maintenance Battalion. The training consisted of a first course on operations, driving and maintenance of the ASCOD tracked armoured vehicle for 28 drivers and 15 commanders and a second course dedicated to second-echelon maintenance with 15 Philippine Army mechanics. A driving course had already been given prior to the departure of the vehicles from GDELS’ Alcalá de Guadaíra factory near Seville.
GDELS-SBS has supplied new combat vehicles of the ASCOD family to the Philippines in co-operation with Israel’s Elbit Systems. The Sabrah is a version of the ASCOD adapted for the Philippines, characterised by its protection, mobility and adaptability to different combat settings. It has been delivered in three variants: the LT105 light tank, a command post vehicle with Elbit’s UT 25 unmanned turret and a recovery vehicle variant.
The Philippine Army reactivated the First Tank Battalion of the First Armored Division in April 2022 as part of a strengthening of AFP capabilities.
“Looking at the future operational landscape, the Philippine Army has reactivated the 1st Tank Battalion to provide our infantry and mechanised infantry forces with advanced firepower capability and enhance the standards of protection, especially in conducting contingency missions and combined arms and joint operations in the country,” the chief of the Philippine Army, Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner Jr, said in a statement in April 2022.
The Philippines is the fourth user country of the ASCOD vehicle, which is currently in operation in Spain (under the name Pizarro), Austria (Ulan) and the United Kingdom (Ajax).
