The Ministry of Defense has delayed the delivery of new Dragon 8×8 armored vehicles it has manufactured TES Defense Unionwhere the Santa Bárbara de Alcalá de Guadaíra plant, which carries out the tests, has been integrated. … In fact, last summer it already had 75 of these battle tanks at its facilities ready for delivery to the army.
The department is managed by Margarita Robles Indra, the leader of the consortium, has commissioned a series of technical upgradesWith 2028 set as the maximum date for vehicle delivery, although this will be for vehicles that are under construction, only those that have already been completed and have passed the testing phase on the Seville track will be received.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Defense Affairs, Amparo ValcarceDuring his appearance before the Congressional Defense Committee yesterday, he explained that the General Directorate of Armaments and Materials (DGAM) reviewed the technical aspects with Tess Defense last November 28, where many technological improvements were agreed upon to modernize the vehicles.
Among the agreed upon improvements, Valcars cited modification from simple to full configurations, updating of simulator requirements, virtual training of the situational awareness system, service entry support, and weapon system trainer. however, These amendments will mean new delays in deliveries. Recognizing the need to “make a corresponding adjustment in annuities.” Currently, the 348 vehicles planned for the first phase of the project are expected to be delivered in 2028, in response to PP’s criticism over constant postponements.
After several delays, the sanctions imposed by the ministry led to the companies being sued. Although they initially appealed, the Ministry of Defense was able to impose economic sanctions worth €9.19 million for failure to meet deadlines and technical milestones. The contract with Tess Defence, worth €1,786 million, was signed on 25 August 2020, but has undergone multiple reschedulings since then.
With regard to deliveries, As of 2025, only 11 of the 92 units promised for 2024 have been received. Indra’s president, Angel Escribano, indicated that between 60 and 80 units are expected to be delivered this year, although Valcarce specified that 57 vehicles are expected to be delivered before the end of 2025. The total number of vehicles to be delivered to the army is 998, divided into three phases of the program.
The Santa Barbara plant will receive 7,000 square meters of space in the logistics warehouse where the additive manufacturing center is being built
Meanwhile, the Seville plant of the multinational General Dynamics group is preparing to take over new defense orders. The most anticipated is the manufacture of Leopard tanks for the army, which is one of the most recently announced contracts, as well as the maintenance of the Pizarro. All this is in addition to orders received from European militaries such as the Latvian Army, which has doubled the initial order and brought the number of “Hunters” already in its portfolio to 84.
General Manager of Santa Barbara Alexander PageLast November, he visited facilities preparing to absorb all the workload to come. Specifically, they will receive 7,000 square meters in logistics warehousewhere the future advanced manufacturing center is currently being built in cooperation with Novaindef from Jaen, which will provide the new systems.
The investment in this plant will be made in two ways: through improved facilities, more storage space and this Center of Excellence which will be operational in the first half of next year. The project consists of an on-site presence A workshop for manufacturing spare parts using 3D metal fiber printers, Manufacturing ovens and the certification system for the parts being manufactured. A digital warehouse will also be created that includes all security measures to always document these spare parts.
The other is to expand the workforce, which will grow by 50 people. The Seville plant is specifically looking for specialists in the life cycle management of “Pizarro”, armored ground vehicles that need urgent modernization to meet the needs of the Army.