Army “Star” modernization program, new armored vehicles Dragon 8×8, «They were born obsolete and into a kind of war that no longer exists». This is the analysis conducted by military experts into the weapons and materials they see with the ABC « … “A major concern” is not because vehicle deliveries are accumulating delays of more than a year, but because they do not respond to the characteristics of armed conflicts occurring today.
Deployment of new armored vehicles It’s the key in Fuerza 35 From the army. The articulated project of the 35th Brigades is the core of the new organization of the ground forces which is now seriously compromised by everything surrounding the 8×8 thing. Moreover, it is experiencing one of the most tense and dangerous moments since the end of the Cold War.
Reasons for what are considered highly solvent military sources «A complete failure that cost 2.5 billion euros» Ranging from the old concept of the programme, which was based on the experience in Lebanon, when six Spanish soldiers were killed in an explosion under the BMB (wheeled medium armored vehicle) that they occupied, and later in Afghanistan, to the technical and commercial problems that have accumulated since its approval in 2007, with the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
“In current conflicts, such as the conflict in Ukraine – explain the sources consulted -, we face another series of threats for which 8×8 was not prepared. For example, nothing can be done Against the massive use of dronesOr in completely different, high-intensity scenarios, between industrialized nations, where competitors have high-powered weapons systems, such as anti-tank missiles, artillery, cyber attacks… None of this is effective.
Matters were also complicated because each arm of the army – infantry, cavalry and sappers – wanted to have a specific vehicle for their tasks, so the same model was chosen without any possible alternative, other than initial modifications depending on the mission. By incorporating everything each one needed, the automobile grew disproportionately in size, weight, and cost.
In 2010, the program was canceled due to budget cuts, and in December 2018, CEO Pedro Sanchez authorized €2.1 billion to be spent to purchase 348 vehicles in the first phase between 2020 and 2025. In 2019, the tender was declared invalid, and a year later Defensa awarded it to a consortium, Tess Defence, made up of Indra, Santa Bárbara Sistema, Escribano and Sapa Placencia. By then, the bill had risen to $2.4 billion with the promise of 9,000 jobs.
Revenue 50 million
The development of the program was literally a disaster. So much so that the government decided that Indra, of which the State Industrial Partnership (SEPI) is the majority partner, would take control of 51% of TESS. This means that Escribano, which is now in the process of merging with Indra, has an income of €50 million.
Each TESS company was to be responsible for a component: Indra, electronics, command and control systems; Notary for towers and other combat elements; Sapa for the transmission and powertrain, Santa Bárbara for the barge and integration of elements manufactured by the remaining suppliers.
The results of public investment in this program are “devastating.” Not only has the $1,200 million initially budgeted increased, according to the latest figures, to more than $2,500 million; The results are almost non-existent, because only 25 units were manufactured, and none of them received official certification. This is despite the fact that 1,208 million were paid Between 2021 and 2024. In light of these data, the Ministry of Defense imposed a fine of $9.1 million on the consortium.
Aside from the delay, the technical problems multiply. For example, there is a serious problem with the car’s transmission, because SAPA, the Tess Defense consortium responsible for it, has not been able to make it reliable. One fact: the rolling test was declared successful at 2,000 kilometres, which is quite a few for a car whose production life should be between 20 and 20 years. The problem is that if this problem is not solved, the various weapon systems and combat turrets will also not be able to be tested and integrated.
The weight of the vehicle, which has already been noted, is crucial. Its weight exceeds 37 tons when fully equipped for combat, which prevents it from being transported by air. The weight of the 8×8 exceeds the weight of the ramp of the Air and Space Forces’ A400 aircraft, so it cannot be transported unless some of its elements are disassembled, which will have to be reassembled in the operational area in a workshop set up for this purpose.
The worst part is that, at least for the time being, there are no other alternatives, except by sea and land, because the only viable option is transport by C-17 Globnemaster, a type of aircraft that our armed forces do not have.
Mobility and consumption
Naturally, this has serious operational implications, especially because it jeopardizes its ability to rapidly deploy on international missions. It also affects their mobility and fuel consumption, both of which are related factors.
he exaggeratedweight It also causes serious inconveniences in the medium term. All weapon systems are designed with future upgrades in mind, usually mid-life. If the vehicle ship is at the weight limit, the possibility of integrating systems for some versions is extremely complex and it is practically impossible to integrate new elements to counter new threats.
Given these absurdities, which could have been avoided with proper planning, rumors arose that the program might be cancelled. However, this does not seem likely, because assuming failure would have huge political and image costs for the defense industry. Although for many it will be the best solution.
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