ASCOD IFV, a joint product between Spain and Austria, entered service in 2002 as the Pizarro in Spain and the Ulan in Austria
It is considered a new generation of highly agile, tracked, medium-weight armored fighting vehicle
possessing excellent maneuverability and reliability, along with good protection
ASCOD stands for speed, optimal protection and immediate performances day-night regardless of weather conditions
Developed in the 1990s, since then, 356 vehicles have been built for the Spanish army and 112 for the Austrian army
The vehicle weighs about 26.3 tons for the Pizarro, while the Austrian Ulan is a bit heavier at 28 tons
It has a length of 6.83 m, a width of 3.64 m, and a height of 2.43 m
Essentially it was the same vehicle, but Austrian and Spanish vehicles have some differences to suit local needs
It follows a conventional layout with a front-mounted engine and a rear compartment
The driver's seat is located at the left hull front, whereas the commander and gunner sit in the slightly off-center-mounted two-man turret
The rear compartment also has two hatches on the roof
Ulan can carry eight soldiers, while Pizarro can carry only seven
In terms of protection, its Armor can resist 14.5 mm armour-piercing ammunition fired from distances of 500 meters or more along the frontal 60° arc
with all around protection against 7.62 mm ammunition
Furthermore, the turret is fitted with two banks of 76 mm Wegmann multi-purpose grenade launchers
which can fire smoke grenades for self-protection as well as high-explosive grenades with fragmentation warhead to a maximum range of 50 metres
ASCOD's main armament is a 30 mm Mauser MK-30/2 autocannon in a fully traversable electro-mechanical turret
The dual belt-fed 30 mm cannon, electrical stabilized on two planes
is able to fire at a rate of up to 770 rounds per minute and accurately engage targets on the move
As secondary armament, the ASCOD carries a 7.62 mm machine gun
the Spanish Pizarro is fitted with an MG-3 machine gun, whereas the Ulan is fitted with an FN MAG
In terms of mobility, the Spanish Pizarro is fitted with a 600 horsepower MTU SV-183 TE22 engine
while the Austrian Ulan includes a 720 horsepower MTU 8V-199-TE20 engine
The smaller Spanish engine gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 21, and the larger engine one of 25, offering both vehicles excellent mobility
The Pizarro can reach a maximum speed of 70 km/h, and a maximum reverse speed of 35 km/h
The Ulan can accelerate from 0 to 50 kilometres per hour in 14 seconds
It can cross 2.3 metres ditches, climb 950 millimetres walls and ford through 1.2 metres deep rivers
It is able to drive at 75% gradient and 40% side slope
Local Situation Awareness System is fitted for 360º vision on the near field that enhances and aid driver operation
The NBC sensor suite includes detectors designed to alert the crew of a chemical attack or the existence of persistent chemical agents
In option, the vehicle can be fitted with advanced ground-based intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance equipment
The ASCOD can be also fitted with a self-protection suite that includes laser warning receivers, missile-warning sensors, and an IR jammer
In addition to Austria and Spain, another variant is in service with the British army, the Ajax, or ASCOD 2, developed by General Dynamics UK
The ASCOD 2 uses the more powerful MTU 8V 199T21 engine, which provides 800 hp
It has an increased gross vehicle weight of 38 tons, with a growth potential to 42 tons