New deliveries for the Spanish Army

Infodefensa portal reports on further deliveries of VCR Dragón wheeled infantry fighting vehicles to the Spanish Army. In 2025, 41 combat vehicles were delivered to the Legion Brigade in Viator, and an additional 24 command post vehicles were handed over to the Spanish Ministry of Defense. According to reports, the first vehicles for 2026 have already been delivered, with more expected to arrive by April.

Earlier reports suggested that the VCR Dragón program was at risk due to technical issues affecting the vehicle. However, it now appears that these problems have been resolved and the program is back on track. Qualification testing of the command post variant is currently underway, while other versions, including the standard IFV configuration, are being implemented.

The VCR 8x8 Dragón is a Spanish wheeled armored vehicle based on the Piranha V family, manufactured by GDELS at the Santa Bárbara Sistemas facilities. It is powered by either an MTU 6V-199 TE21 or a Scania DC-13 diesel engine, each producing 550 horsepower—allowing the vehicle to reach speeds of up to 105 km/h with an operational range of 550 km. According to the manufacturer, the hull provides all-around protection against 14.5 mm armor-piercing ammunition, while the front section is designed to withstand most types of 30 mm rounds. The vehicle can also be fitted with additional armor to enhance protection, for example, against shaped-charge warheads.

In the infantry fighting vehicle variant, the main armament is mounted in the unmanned Guardian 30 turret system and consists of a 30 mm Orbital ATK Mk44S Bushmaster II/S automatic cannon. It is complemented by a dual launcher for Spike LR/LR2 anti-tank guided missiles.