This new center, developed in collaboration with Novaindef from Jaén and with the participation of firms like Meltio from Andalusia, is currently undergoing certification. It aims to begin manufacturing in the last quarter of the year, combining metallic printing technologies with state-of-the-art industrial digitalization. This will enable the production and certification of critical components in record time, improving the operational response capability of in-service military systems by up to 50%.
Alejandro Page, general director of Santa Bárbara Sistemas, and Plácido Puentedura, director of the Alcalá de Guadaíra plant, presented the project to approximately 500 attendees, including professionals, suppliers, and representatives from the company's supply chain. The event also highlighted ongoing projects and the factory's new capabilities for the maintenance, sustainment, and upgrade of armored vehicles.
Since 2021, the facilities have housed a Life Cycle Support Center of Excellence, which currently manages an unprecedented portfolio of programs for both Spain and several European armies. To meet this workload, the company has invested 10 million euros in the last year to increase capacity and has expanded its workforce by 20%. This investment is projected to exceed a cumulative 25 million euros over the next three fiscal years.
The factory, which employs around 300 workers, has 25 hectares of productive area and 170 hectares for its integrated test track, unique in the European sector. This infrastructure, along with recent investments in digitalization and equipment modernization, allows the complex to achieve a delivery capacity of 100 units annually.
Among national projects, the GDELS plant is responsible for the sustainment of Leopard main battle tanks, with the first 2E version unit to be delivered to the Spanish Ministry of Defense next week. The potential award for the upgrade of these vehicles is also expected throughout 2026. Other key activities include the modernization of Pizarro vehicles, under a 176 million euro contract, and the Piranha III amphibious vehicles.
Alcalá de Guadaíra is also the integration and final testing center for the VCR 8x8 ‘Dragón’, the most significant land modernization plan for the Spanish Army, valued at over 2 billion euros for a batch of 348 units. This program is part of the Tess Defence consortium, led by Indra and involving Sapa Plasencia and EM&E.
Internationally, the plant is responsible for the maintenance of 84 Hunter armored vehicles for the Latvian Army, under a 225 million euro contract valid until 2037. This agreement includes engineering, spare parts supply, specialized training, and mobile operational support solutions. Additionally, it participates in the system integration and wiring of 42 vehicles of this model for the same client, within a global program worth 387 million euros.
In the field of artillery, Alcalá de Guadaíra has played a leading role in one of the most innovative developments in the European defense industry with the Némesis tracked self-propelled howitzer. This vehicle, based on the Ascod platform and featuring entirely European patent and technology, is the first in the world that can be operated remotely. Its design, partial development, assembly, and final testing were carried out at the Seville facilities.
