General Dynamics European Land Systems

Last updated
General Dynamics European Land Systems
Industry Defence
Predecessor
Founded2003;20 years ago (2003)
Headquarters,
Number of locations
9 (as of 2022)
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Antonio Bueno (CEO)
Products
Military

Military vehicles, bridging systems, artillery, missiles, small arms, turrets, ammunition, maintenance & services

Contents

Civilian
Driveline, Aeronautics, thermal and surface components
Number of employees
Increase2.svg 2,400 (2023)
Parent General Dynamics
Website www.gdels.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg https://www.gdels.com/

General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDLS) is an automotive and arms manufacturer spread across Europe, with a headquarter in Madrid, Spain. It is a business unit of General Dynamics which consolidated in one structure all European subsidiaries of GDLS.

History

At the beginning of the years 2000, General Dynamics acquired major European defence companies, and consolidated the activities and expanded the collaborations.[ citation needed ]

Structure

within General Dynamics Corporation

Within General Dynamics Corporation, as of January 2022, GDELS is one of the three "Combat Systems" business units, and all have there subsidiaries: [8] [9]

Structure

The subsidiaries and official structure of General Dynamics European Land Systems, S.L are: [8] [9]

Note: The Botswanan, Czech, Danish and Romanian subsidiaries are liaison offices regarding contracts in execution with the military of these countries. [9]

Subsidiaries

Austria GmbH

For General Dynamics Corporation, Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH  [ de ] was an interesting prospect as they were collaborating with Santa Barbara Sistemas A GD subsidiary prior to its acquisition on the program ASCOD (Austrian - Spanish Cooperative Development), a new tracked infantry fighting vehicle.

Products

Note, only the products developed or manufactured after the acquisition by General Dynamics are mentioned here.

Deutschland GmbH

Bridge Systems GmbH

EWK Eisenwerke Kaiserslautern  [ de ] was created as a steel construction company in 1864. In 2002, the defence activity was acquired by General Dynamics, it was temporarly associated to Santa Bárbara Sistemas. In 2003 GDELS was created, and EWK became GDELS– Bridge Systems GmbH, a subsidiary of GDELS - Deutschland GmbH. The core defence activity is focused on military bridging systems.

Products

Note, only the products developed or manufactured after the acquisition by General Dynamics are mentioned here.

  • Pontoon bridges:
    • IRB (Improved Ribbon Bridge), MLC85 capacity:
      It is based on the American SRB (Standard Ribbon Bridge). It is a product offered by GDELS – Bridge Systems GmbH although it was initially an American product [14]
    • M3 Amphibious Rig , MLC85 capacity:
      It is a self-propelled, amphibious pontoon bridge developed in the 1980s-90s by EWK for the German Army prior being part of GDELS, and is still in production. [15]
    • Hydra:
      It is a modular pontoon boat [16] [17]
  • Bridging vehicles:
    • ANACONDA, (MLC85 capacity, with 22 m gaps):
      It is the evolution of the BIBER  [ de ] bridge launcher, the system is available on tanks. [18] [19] A new variant is offered in collaboration with Rheinmetall with its truck, the HX2. [20]
    • PYTHON, (MLC80+ capacity with 13 m gaps):
      It is known as the Rapidly employed bridge system (REBS), it is typically launched from 10-15 tons 8×8 trucks, it is also available for vehicles like the Piranha IV, Piranha V, and Boxer. [21] [22]
    • COBRA, (MLC50 capacity with 15 m gaps):
      It is a variable folding bridge, flexible, prototypes of this bridge exist on the Boxer, the ASCOD 2, the Piranha IV and V. Pearson Engineering supplies temporary or permanent support Bridge Launching Mechanism. [23]
    • VIPER, (MLC40 capacity with 4, 6 and 8 meters gaps):
      It is a lightweight modular multi.purpose solution that can be adapted on light armoured vehicles like the Mowag Eagle V (4×4).
    • QBB (2.5 m unprepared gaps span):
      It is a very lightweight Quad Bike Bridge.
  • Footbridge:
    • MAMBA (span of 30 m): [24] [25]
      Ultra lightweight footbridge, to be used by to cross wide gaps, assembled by hand, and transportable by light trucks, helicopters, etc. It is already operational with the German Army.

General Dynamics European Land Systems - FWW GmbH

FWW Fahrzeugwerk GmbH is a company that was founded in 2001. It was developed as a service and maintenance provider for military costumers. Its main client became the German Army. It also has activities as an arms dealer. [26]

Mowag GmbH

General Dynamics Corporation expanded its business in land systems at the beginning of the years 2000. General Motors Canada and its subsidiaries were a major player in the field of light and middle armoured vehicles. The main vehicles being manufactured by GM Canada included the highly successful Mowag Piranha family and its derivatives:

Mowag Motorwagenfabrik AG was therefore part of the acquisition in 2003, and as the corporate structure was adapted, Mowag was put under the leadership of GDELS S.L. but it still collaborated heavily with GDLS Canada, GDLS USA, and GD UK.[ citation needed ]

Products

Note, only the products developed or manufactured after the acquisition by General Dynamics are mentioned here.

  • Multi-role / reconnaissance / infantry mobility vehicle:
    • Duro was developed and manufactured by Bucher-Guyer AG. The program was acquired by Mowag Motorwagenfabrik AG in 2003, after it was purchased by General Dynamics Corporation. [30]
      • Duro, not in production anymore [31]
      • Duro II, not in production anymore [32]
      • Duro III [33]
      • Duro 3P / YAK [34] [35]
      • Duro-E, a new variant offered by GDELS - Mowag in development, an electric powered variant [36]
      • LFAV, light fire attack vehicle, not in production anymore Vehicle based on 4×4 chassis for the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
    • Eagle
      • Eagle III, not in production anymore [37]
      • Eagle IV, based on the Mowag Duro chassis, not in production anymore [38]
      • Eagle V 4×4, based on the Mowag Duro chassis [39]
      • Eagle V 6×6, based on the Mowag Duro chassis [39]
    • LTV Merlin, Light Tactical Vehicle [36] This is a new vehicle offered, fitting the requirements for airborne, special forces and light infantry, it fits in the CH-47 and CH-53.
  • Multi-role combat vehicle (APC / AFV / IFV / reconnaissance):
  • Artillery

Santa Bárbara Sistemas S.A.

General Dynamics acquired SBS in 2001. SBS is the primary supplier of land equipment for the Spanish Army, and it is also involved on other equipment for the Spanish and European military forces. It has also some parts of the business focused on civilian sectors (aeronautics, as well as thermal and surface treatments).

Products

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patria AMV</span> Finnish wheeled armoured personnel carrier

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mowag Piranha</span> Swiss armoured fighting vehicle

The Mowag Piranha is a family of armoured fighting vehicles designed by the Swiss company Mowag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AVGP</span> Armoured fighting vehicle

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mowag Eagle</span> Infantry mobility vehicle

The Mowag Eagle is a series of wheeled armoured vehicle designed by Mowag a Swiss company now owned by GDELS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASCOD</span> Austro-Spanish armoured fighting vehicle

The ASCOD armoured fighting vehicle family is the product of a cooperation agreement between Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG and Spanish General Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas. The ASCOD family includes the LT 105 light tank equipped with a 105 mm gun, a surface-to-air missile launcher, an anti-tank guided missile launcher, mortar carrier, R&R vehicle, command and control vehicle, ambulance, artillery observer, and the AIFV model.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mowag</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandur II</span> Armoured personnel carrier

The Pandur II is an improved modular all-wheel-drive version of the Pandur 6x6 APC wheeled armoured vehicle. It was developed as a private venture by the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge. Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge is part of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), which is also the parent company of MOWAG of Switzerland and Santa Bárbara Sistemas of Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandur I</span> Armoured personnel carrier

The Pandur is an APC developed and produced by the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge (SSF). It was developed during the 1980s as a private venture. In 2003, General Dynamics took over Steyr-Daimler-Puch which is now part of General Dynamics European Land Systems, which is also the parent company of MOWAG, Santa Bárbara Sistemas and GD ELS – Germany.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mowag Duro</span> Military transport vehicles

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