Latvian MoD orders 42 ASCOD IFVs from GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas

The Latvian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded General Dynamics European Land Systems-Santa Bárbara Sistemas (GDELS-SBS) a contract for the delivery of an initial batch of 42 ASCOD infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), the company announced on 30 January 2025.

The initial contract is valued at approximately EUR 373 million and includes a logistics support package. In response to questions from ESD, GDELS representatives revealed that the first vehicle would be delivered in summer of 2026 and that “all the rest of the batch will be delivered within 2027”.

The IFVs to be delivered will be the latest iteration of GDELS’ ASCOD family of tracked vehicles and will include features specific to Latvian requirements. While GDELS declined to confirm certain details regarding specific subsystems on Latvia’s chosen ASCOD configuration, a representative stated that the version pictured on Latvian trials would be “pretty close to that configuration”, while noting that “there will be some tendered options to be confirmed by the customer”.

Taken at face value, this would suggest that Latvia has opted for the most recent iteration of the ASCOD tracked platform, fitted with Soucy composite rubber tracks (CRTs) and an Elbit Systems UT30 Mk2 unmanned turret armed with a Mk44 Bushmaster II 30 mm automatic cannon.

Alongside this, a photo of a scale model of ASCOD was shared on X/Twitter by Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds, along with photos of the contract signing ceremony. Notably, the model in question was equipped with the Elbit Systems Iron Fist hard-kill active protection system (APS). This hints at some of the ‘options’ to which the GDELS representative may have been alluding.

Incidentally, the UT30 Mk2 is the same turret used by the IFV variants of the Romanian Army’s Piranha V 8×8 and Croatian Army’s Patria AMV 8×8. Several additional features not seen on Romania’s version were noticeable on the turret used by ASCOD during trials in Latvia. These include laser warning receivers (LWRs), along with two banks of four obscurant smoke grenade launchers.

When ESD asked whether an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) was part of the turret package, the GDELS representative stated, “It is an option that the Latvian Army considers to be integrated in the turret, yes”, but did not confirm whether a specific missile had been selected. In this regard, while a plethora of ATGM options exist, the most likely candidate here is the Rafael Spike LR2, which has previously been integrated with this turret and is already in use with the Latvian armed forces in the infantry-portable configuration.

ESD asked whether the choice of turret would mean that it would be constructed by Elbit Systems’ Romanian subsidiary, Elmet International, which already manufactures the turret in Romania. The GDELS representative answered that “there will be some assembly tasks here to be done in Latvia and the system capabilities in Romania can be leveraged”. The representative also noted “there will be an impact on European production to contribute to the security of supply”.

As for the tracked platforms themselves, the GDELS representative confirmed to ESD that these would be produced at the GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas facilities in Spain.

With regard to notable changes for Latvia’s configuration of the ASCOD platform specifically, the GDELS representative noted that this included an “open electronic architecture that allows now the seamless integration of different equipment, so will integrate the latest C4I system here”. Additionally, the representative noted that the vehicle features a “unique solution in tracked vehicles” that improves the reliability and robustness of the running gear, in the form of a “self-adjustment track tensioner that will allow the track to be in the right tension all the time” and would work “even while [the vehicle crew are] inside the vehicle.”

“There is an issue with vehicles when the track is not tensioned in the proper manner” the representative explained, adding that incorrect tension “provides more wear on the rubber, less traction while driving.” When ESD asked if this tensioner was linked to the choice of CRTs over steel tracks, the representative replied that it “could be used [with] steel tracks as well, so this is not dependent on rubber band track technology.”

ASCOD, which stands for Austrian Spanish Cooperation Development, covers a range of AFVs all derived from a common base platform originally designed to replace the older light AFVs of the Austrian and Spanish armies.

The Latvian Land Forces currently operate an AFV force consisting of around 170 ex-British Army Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) variants, which the ASCOD IFVs will replace, plus a growing fleet of Patria 6×6s, of which 256 have been ordered under the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) framework agreement.

As a closing thought, it should be noted that the Latvia’s decision to select this configuration of ASCOD may have a knock-on effect on other procurements, most notably Romania’s IFV programme. Sources in Romanian industry have previously told ESD that the Romanian Ministry of National Defence is seeking to retain turret commonality between its Piranha V 8×8s and its future IFV. By integrating the UT30 Mk2 with ASCOD, and also securing a customer for this configuration (thereby mitigating a degree of risk and immaturity), GDELS looks to have secured a competitive advantage in the contest for Romania’s future IFV.