Spain’s Council of Ministers has approved the modernization of more than 100 Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) in service with the Spanish Army.
Valued at 261.8 million euros ($305 million), the program will run from contract award through November 2031, according to Spanish media sources.
Santa Bárbara Sistemas, a subsidiary of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), has been selected to execute the midlife upgrade and has received a 176-million-euro ($205 million) loan to support the project.
The effort covers the Phase I batch of 121 Pizarro vehicles, originally delivered between 1996 and 2003, bringing them up to the Phase II configuration already fielded in 83 newer units.
The Spanish Army currently operates 261 Pizarro vehicles, including 21 command variants and 35 Castor engineering versions.
Scope of Modernization
Upgrades will focus on the fire control system, onboard electronics, power distribution, and diagnostic systems, alongside improvements to protection, communications interoperability, and identification friend-or-foe (IFF) integration.
The plan also includes mobility enhancements, government-furnished navigation systems, and chassis and hull modifications.
Santa Bárbara Sistemas will additionally upgrade the turret system, add a new thermal camera for the gunner, and modernize the commander’s control interface.
The Pizarro effort forms part of a broader 5.55-billion-euro ($6.47-billion) defense modernization package recently authorized by the Council of Ministers, encompassing upgrades to Spain’s air and ground training systems.
