The ASCOD (Austrian Spanish Cooperation Development) Armoured Fighting Vehicle family is the product of a cooperation agreement between Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG (in 1998 the production of heavy armed vehicles was sold out under the name Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug, which is now the producer) and Spanish Santa Bárbara Sistemas (both companies are now divisions of a unit of General Dynamics). The ASCOD family includes the LT 105, a light tank equipped with a 105 mm gun, a SAM launcher, an Anti-tank missile launcher, mortar carrier, R&R vehicle, Command & Control vehicle, ambulance, artillery observer, and the AIFV model. In Spanish service the vehicle is called Pizarro, while the Austrian version is called Ulan.
| ASCOD Pizarro | |
|---|---|
| Type | Armoured Fighting Vehicle |
| Place of origin |  Spain Austria |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 28 tonnes (30.9 short tons) |
| Length | 6.24 m (26 ft) |
| Width | 3.64 m (12 ft) |
| Height | 2.43 m (8 ft) |
| Crew | 3 + 8 passengers |
| | |
| Primary armament | 30 mm Mauser MK 30-2 |
| Secondary armament | MG3 7.62 mm (Pizarro) MG74 7.62 mm (Ulan) |
| Engine | Diesel 600 hp (Pizarro) 720 hp (Ulan) |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Speed | Road: 72 km/h |
ASCOD AFV Variants
ASCOD Pizarro
ASCOD Pizarro is built by Santa Bárbara Sistemas. It has multiple variants.
- VCI/C - Infantry / Cavalry Vehicle; This is the basic ASCOD Pizarro.
- VCPC - Command Vehicle
- VCOAV - (Vehículo de Observación Avanzada) Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle
- VCREC - Recovery Vehicle
- VCZ - Engineering Vehicle
- LT-105 Light Tank - A light tank, designed for the export market, with a 105 mm gun. There are three turrets available, each made by a different manufacturer. These manufacturers are Oto Melara, General Dynamics, and Denel Land Systems (formally known as LIW). The vehicles for the Royal Thai Marine Corps will use the turret from Denel.
- Donar - Medium 155mm SPA based on the KMW PzH 2000
ASCOD Ulan
ASCOD Ulan is built by Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug. It includes a more powerful 530 kW engine, and a different fire control system built by Kollsman.
ASCOD SV
ASCOD SV (also called the ASCOD 2 SV) is the ASCOD variant chosen for the British Army’s Specialist Vehicle Programme, and will be built by General Dynamics UK. Currently, there are four variants planned for this programme.
- ASCOD SV - Scout Variant (This is the main variant of the programme.)
- ASCOD VCPC - Command Post Armoured Vehicle Variant
- ASCOD VCOAV - Forward Reconnaissance Armoured Vehicle
- ASCOD ARV - Armoured Recovery Vehicle
- The main weapon will be a 40mm Case Telescopic Weapon System (CT40 cannon).
- The armour will provide basic ballistic and mine protection, with upgrade add-on packages for improved protection when needed.
- The chassis will be upgraded, including an increased engine rated at 600 kW.
- The turret will be built by Lockheed Martin UK.
ASCOD AFV Users
- Austria - 112 ASCOD Ulan
- Spain - 356 ASCOD Pizarro (293 VCI/C, 26 VCPC, 28 VCOAV, 8 VCREC, and 1 VCZ)
Thailand - 15 ASCOD Pizarro LT-105
United Kingdom - In negotiations
