MADRID, ($1=0.87 Euros) — The Israeli company Plasan will provide an advanced armor package for the new wheeled combat vehicle Dragon 8×8 [WCV or VCR in Spanish] to the Spanish army, BulgarianMilitary.com has learned, citing InfoDefensa.
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The company has announced a contract with Tess Defense, the company that runs the program, to supply a modular and light anti-missile and an anti-grenade system called Hybrid Slat Fence [HSF], and will also provide armor with a mine protection solution and an improvised explosive device [IED] for the lower and side parts of the vehicle, with the corresponding energy-absorbing seats for soldiers.
According to Plasan, the agreement was signed last November and covers the 348 Dragon vehicles acquired by Spain’s Ministry of Defense in the first phase. The first deliveries will take place in the first quarter of 2022 and will continue until 2026.
Plasan CEO Dan Ziv noted that “this contract is an important milestone and a remarkable testament to Plasan’s unique ability to tailor its technologies and solutions to specific platforms and customer needs.” He added: “Plasan is proud to participate in this prestigious program of the Spanish Ministry of Defense and will continue to work closely with Tess Defense to ensure the successful implementation of the VCR program,.”
The military recently unveiled in London the mobility, protection, communications, and combat capabilities of its new 8×8 wheeled combat vehicle in a matter of days.
In mid-December, the Santa Bárbara Sistemas weapons factory in Trubia began production of vehicles. Tess Defense made up of Santa Bárbara Sistemas, Indra, Sapa Placencia, and Escribano, is responsible for delivering a batch of 348 8×8 WCV worth a total of € 2.1 billion. The forecast is that the first deliveries will take place in the second half of this year.
Tess Defense, established in mid-2020 for this program, aims to become a benchmark in the ground segment of the Spanish defense industry, to lead other military programs in the long term, and to participate in international projects.
Plasan’s blast and IED protection
Plasan solutions not only protect the vehicle and the teams that equip it, but also ensure optimized survival of the crew members by forming several layers of protection.
The Israeli company protects the lower body by absorbing the energy of the explosion and stopping fragments of high-speed ammunition, including protection from floating floors and belly deflectors.
The floating floor is a solution attached to the walls of the vehicle that minimizes damage and injury by isolating the crew’s feet from the floor of the vehicle, forming a buffer against the explosive impact.
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