The European branch of the American corporation General Dynamics, the Czechoslovak Group holding company, and Ukrainian Armor are considering the possibility of licensed production of ASCOD armored fighting vehicles.

This armored vehicle is proposed to be supplied and manufactured in Ukraine to provide the Defense Forces of Ukraine with modern armored fighting vehicles.

Ukrainian Armor announced this on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian military tested this combat vehicle during a visit to the manufacturing plant in Spain.

“The experience of modern warfare has demonstrated the enormous value of armored vehicles in saving the lives of our military. That is why we plan to supply and produce NATO-standard armored fighting vehicles in Ukraine,” Vladyslav Belbas, CEO of Ukrainian Armor, noted.

It is reported that the company’s specialists, together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, representatives of the Central Scientific Research Institute of Armament and Military Equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the Czechoslovak Group holding, visited the production facilities of General Dynamics European Land Systems in Trubia, Spain, where they got familiarized with the production of wheeled and tracked vehicles.

Ukrainian servicemen tested the armored fighting vehicle to compare the capabilities of ASCOD with the existing armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

ASCOD

The versatile ASCOD (Austrian Spanish Cooperative Development) platform can be equipped with various weapons systems: remote weapone stations with MK 44 Bushmaster-type 30/40mm automatic guns, turrets with 105mm or 120mm guns, and anti-tank guided missile systems.

The platform has ballistic and mine protection, which provides a level of protection in accordance with STANAG 4569 – level 4 for ballistic protection (protection against armor-piercing bullets of 14.5mm caliber) and level 4a/4b for mine protection (detonation of 10 kg of explosives).

ASCOD and vehicles based on it are in service in Spain, the United Kingdom, Austria, and the Philippines.

“We are discussing with General Dynamics European Land Systems the possibility of supplying ASCOD to Ukraine in the shortest possible time, organizing the production and maintenance of the platform in Ukraine as soon as possible, and integrating advanced weapons, electronics, and communications systems to achieve interoperability between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and NATO,” Belbas shared.

In August, Ukraine and Sweden declared their intention to jointly produce CV90 infantry fighting vehicles in Ukraine.