Zafra (Badajoz), 27 October 2026 — ARMMO Defense Technologies and GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas have entered into a cooperation agreement to promote the development and integration of advanced technologies into armoured platforms and ground systems, strengthening the industrial and technological capabilities of Spain’s defence sector.
The partnership brings together GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas’ expertise in the engineering, manufacture and integration of military vehicles with ARMMO’s capabilities in autonomous aerial interception systems and Counter-UAS technologies, with the aim of developing solutions tailored to the current and future operational requirements of the Armed Forces.
ATLAS 26: integration and launch of BANDIT-X from ASCOD HMC
One of the first outcomes of this partnership was demonstrated during exercise ATLAS 26, held in Huelva under the direction of the Spanish Army’s Anti-Aircraft Artillery Command.
During the exercise, ARMMO and GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas integrated, launched and flew the autonomous BANDIT-X interceptor from the ASCOD HMC tracked armoured platform, demonstrating new possibilities for equipping military ground vehicles with mobile air defence capabilities and protection against unmanned threats.
The activities took place in the presence of representatives of the Spanish Army, Navy and Air and Space Force, as well as senior NATO commanders, including Admiral General Manuel Teodoro López Calderón, Chief of the Defence Staff (JEMAD), and Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT).
The demonstration marks a step forward in the integration of autonomous interception systems into armoured platforms and enables the exploration of new ground-based air defence configurations suited to different operational scenarios.
BANDIT-X: Spanish autonomous interception technology validated in a NATO environment
BANDIT-X is a high-speed autonomous aerial interceptor developed by ARMMO Defense Technologies for Counter-UAS missions, designed to neutralise unmanned aerial threats.
The system reaches speeds exceeding 360 km/h, with a technology roadmap targeting 420 km/h, an endurance of 20 to 25 minutes and an estimated operational range of 40 to 50 kilometres, depending on conditions and mission profile.
Its technological capabilities include autonomous navigation in degraded or denied GNSS environments, resilience to electronic interference, autonomous terminal guidance and the development of collaborative operational concepts.
BANDIT-X was validated in 2026 during experimental activities involving NATO in Slovakia and has been assigned a NATO Stock Number (NSN), facilitating its identification and logistical management within the cataloguing system used by allied countries.
Its integration into ASCOD HMC marks another step in the system’s evolution, demonstrating its ability to be deployed and launched from a military ground platform.
ASCOD HMC: a multipurpose platform for new defence capabilities
ASCOD HMC (Heavy Mission Carrier), developed by GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas, is a modular, scalable multipurpose armoured platform designed to integrate different mission systems on a common architecture.
Its configuration enables the integration of ground-based air defence (GBAD), artillery, fire support, heavy recovery, logistics, electronic warfare, medical evacuation and Counter-UAS protection capabilities, among others.
The platform incorporates the NEVA open digital architecture, developed in accordance with the NGVA (NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture) standard, facilitating the integration of new systems, interoperability and the adoption of emerging technological capabilities.
The integration of BANDIT-X illustrates ASCOD HMC’s ability to incorporate technologies developed by specialist companies and adapt its configurations to the operational requirements of each mission.
An industrial partnership focused on future defence capabilities
The cooperation agreement between ARMMO and GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas establishes a framework for the continued development and integration of autonomous technologies and advanced defence solutions on a range of ground platforms.
The partnership combines GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas’ industrial capabilities and international presence with ARMMO’s technological development, opening up new opportunities for the evolution of mobile air defence and Counter-UAS systems.
The demonstration at ATLAS 26 highlights the potential for collaboration between major industrial groups and Spanish technology companies to accelerate the integration of new military capabilities.
This cooperation represents a significant step for Spain’s defence industry, strengthening its ability to innovate, integrate technologies and participate in future national and allied programmes.
