Ukraine intends to launch production of Spanish-Austrian IFVs

Ukraine plans to introduce licensed production of Spanish-Austrian infantry fighting vehicles ASCOD, Director General of "Ukrainian Armoured Equipment" Vladislav Belbas said.

"Now we are working out the possibility of producing components and assembling Spanish-Austrian IFV ASCOD under licence. We are talking about a vehicle that used to be developed and ordered by several EU Member States," Belbas explained, according to Economic Pravda.

He pointed out that first of all it is necessary to purchase a test batch of vehicles and then the negotiations on the localisation of the production will be started.

There are four countries in the world where the IFV ASCOD is in service in various modifications: Spain, Austria, the Philippines and the United Kingdom. Last year, the United States ordered ASCOD-based vehicles.