Indra, GDELS Santa Bárbara Systems, Escribano and SAPA receive permission from the Ministry of Defense to create the company that will execute the VCR 8X8 Program

Madrid, May 13, 2020. Indra Sistemas, Santa Bárbara Sistemas, Sapa Placencia, and Escribano Mechanical & Engineering will form a company responsible for executing the 8×8 VCR Program, after the Ministry of Defense has signed the agreement allowing for the company’s formation.

This company will be responsible for the supply of 348 8×8 Wheeled Combat Vehicles (VCR), as well as for their lifecycle maintenance and support, and their international marketing. These vehicles will be delivered within an estimated seven years from the signing of the Program Agreement.

The objective of the four companies, through this company, is to meet all operational objectives and respond to all the needs of the Army and the Ministry of Defense, and for the 8×8 VCR Program to become a driving force for national industry. Along these lines, the development of this program entails an ambitious national Industrial Plan, which facilitates maintaining the authority of design in Spain and fosters a high level of participation of national industry in the program, at a percentage of no less than 70%.

The program will have a particular impact in Asturias, Seville, Guipúzcoa, and Madrid, where the creation of 650 direct jobs and another 1,000 indirect jobs is expected.

The program will also generate industrial property for national industry and will allow for the maintenance of national sovereignty over a product that represents an essential capability for national defense.

About Indra

Indra (www.indracompany.com) is one of the leading global technology and consulting companies and the technology partner for key business operations of its clients worldwide. It is a leading global provider of proprietary solutions in specific segments of the Transport and Defense markets. Indra is an international leader in the defense industry, developing critical projects for the national defense of the countries it serves, thanks to its participation in major European and NATO programs and its export capacity. Indra is also the Spanish national industrial coordinator for the European Defense Program (FCAS). It is also a leading digital transformation and information technology consulting firm in Spain and Latin America through its subsidiary, Minsait. At the close of fiscal year 2019, Indra had revenues of €3.204 billion, more than 49,000 employees, a local presence in 46 countries, and commercial operations in more than 140 countries.

About GDELS Santa Bárbara Systems

Santa Bárbara Systems S.A., part of the General Dynamics European Land Systems group, is a Spanish company headquartered in Madrid with nearly 1,000 highly qualified employees who design, manufacture, integrate, and maintain combat systems, including tracked and wheeled ground platforms and artillery systems. For more information, visit www.gdels.com

About SAPA Placencia

SAPA Placencia’s (www.sapa.es) objective in this project is to transform knowledge leadership into global business leadership, positioning itself as a technological benchmark in vehicle mobility. To this end, it has a strong team at its facilities in Andoain and Madrid (Spain), as well as in Detroit (USA). SAPA Placencia has been and remains committed to championing technology.

About Escribano Mechanical & Engineering

Escribano M&E, a national company with technological capabilities, development engineering, and manufacturing for the comprehensive development of Remote Weapon Stations, Electro-Optical Systems, and guided munition kits. Escribano M&E is committed to innovation and investment in cutting-edge and dual-use technologies. The naval (SENTINEL) and land-based (GUARDIAN) Remote Weapon Stations and their Electro-Optical Systems for Advanced Observation and Tracking (OTEOS) have been tested by navies and armies around the world, and are currently a global benchmark. The 12.70mm Naval Remote Weapon Station (SENTINEL 2.0) is in service with our Spanish Navy, and the OTEOS system has been selected by the Spanish Civil Guard for border surveillance.

Press Release 8×8 Society 13052020