ASCOD Autonomous Platform unveiled in Spain

ASCOD Autonomous Platform exhibited at the 2E+I Forum in Toledo. (General Dynamics European Land Systems)

General Dynamics European Land Systems-Santa Bárbara Sistemas (GDELS-SBS) and SENER Aeroespacial unveiled an unmanned variant of the Austrian Spanish Cooperation Development (ASCOD) 2 modular tracked vehicle at the 2E+I Forum, held in Toledo on 10 and 11 October.

The ASCOD Autonomous Platform, as the companies have designated the vehicle, is an optionally manned system robotised via an appliqué kit.

The system was demonstrated to General Amador Enseñat y Berea, chief of staff of the Spanish Army.

Speaking to Janes , an industry source said that “[the add-on kit] can be applied to newly designed ground platforms or transform conventional manned, tracked, and wheeled platforms into optionally unmanned platforms – a requirement that is increasingly in demand in the European Union (EU) and NATO for safe operations”. “The control layer is generic for any type of vehicle and the actuation layer is customised for each particular case,” the source continued.

A dynamic demonstration was held on 10 October in which the platform showed its capabilities in an exercise designed by the Spanish Legion. During the demonstration, the ASCOD Autonomous Platform conducted a minefield-breaching operation.

“From a safe and protected position, the crew can drive and set the vehicle in position through the remote handheld multifunction driver display. The risk exposure to the crew in such a situation is therefore significantly reduced,” the two companies said in a statement.

The demonstration took place within the framework of the Spanish Army's ‘Fuerza 35' initiative – a long-term transformation programme led by the Logistics Support Command (Mando de Apoyo Logístico: MALE).

Speaking to Janes