The ASCOD (Austrian-Spanish Co-operative Development) family of fighting vehicles is marketed by ASCOD A.I.E. with headquarters based in Madrid, Spain. ASCOD is a jointly owned company set up by Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG of Vienna, Austria and Santa Barbara SA of Madrid, Spain.

As well as the infantry fighting vehicle, the ASCOD family includes: LT 105 light tank, anti-aircraft missile carrier, anti-aircraft gun system, anti-tank guided missile carrier, mortar carrier, repair and recovery vehicle, logistics carrier, command and communication carrier, artillery observation post and ambulance.

The Infantry Fighting Vehicle is operational with the Spanish Army where it is called the Pizarro. The requirement for the Spanish Army is for up to 900 vehicles including an initial requirement for 123 infantry fighting vehicles and 23 Command and Communications vehicles. SBB Blindados, a Santa Barbara company, is prime contractor for the Spanish vehicles.

It has also been ordered by the Austrian Army, where it will be known as Ulan. 112 vehicles have been ordered for delivery between 2002 and 2004. Ulan will be built by Steyr-Daimler-Puch.

Turret control is electro-mechanical. The weapon system is stabilised in two axes, which allows the vehicle to engage targets stationary or on the move. Elevation is from -10 to +50 degrees with a 360 degree traverse.

The vehicle's main armament is a 30 mm dual feed, gas-operated Mauser MK 30-2 automatic cannon with a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. The 30 mm gun has a rate of fire of 800 rounds/minute and can fire a range of ammunition including APFSDS rounds. The vehicle carries 200 rounds of 30 mm and 700 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition ready to fire, and a store of up to 205 rounds of 30 mm and up to 2200 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

SELF-PROTECTION

The hull and turret are constructed from all-welded steel armour which provides protection against 14.5 mm armour piercing incendiary rounds over the forward 60 degree arc and all round protection against 7.62 mm weapon attack. Additional ballistic protection is available against up to 30 mm APFDS (Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot) rounds fired from a 1,000 m range over the forward 60 degree arc, and all round protection against 14.5 mm armour piercing incendiary (API) rounds from a range of 500 m.

Two sets of three smoke grenade launchers are installed on each side of the turret. ASCOD fighting vehicles can be fitted with laser warning system and NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) detection system.

The ASCOD has a digital ballistic fire control computer, which can be programmed for up to six ammunition types, five for the 30 mm gun and one for the machine gun.

The gunner's station is equipped with a Kollsman Day Night Range Sight (DNRS) which has a day channel and thermal imaging sight with an integrated laser rangefinder. The 8 to 12 micron thermal imager is dual field of view and has magnifications of x 2.8 and x 8.4.

The commander has a periscopic day sight, a television monitor displaying the image from the gunner's thermal sight and six unity vision periscopes.

The ASCOD is fitted with an MTU 8V-183-TE22 8-V90 diesel engine, rated 600 hp, and a Renk HSWL 106C hydro-mechanical transmission, and torsion bar suspension. MTU has developed a new more powerful engine (530 kW at 2300 rpm), the 8V 199, which will be fitted to Ulan vehicles.

The LT 105 Light Tank has been selected by the Royal Thai Marine Corps which requires 15 tanks, plus one command and one recovery vehicle. It is fitted with a three man turret such as the 105 Low Recoil Force Turret by Otobreda, General Dynamics Low Profile Turret or the LIW turret. The tanks for Thailand will have the LIW turret. Main armament is a 105 mm semi-automatic low recoil tank gun with a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun.