Lockheed Martin [LMT] and EXPAL recently said they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) intended to facilitate exclusive discussions for exploring the formation of a union temporal de empresa (UTE), or consortium, as the companies pursue the Spanish 8×8 (Vehiculo Blindado Ruedas )VBR program.
Spain wants some 300 vehicles in different variants.
This MoU expands upon the parties’ current relationship, announced in May, which defined EXPAL as having responsibility for the logistics and maintenance support of the AMV offering. The newest signing announced at Eurosatory in Paris demonstrates Lockheed Martin’s commitment to relationships with Spanish companies.
“We are excited about the strong team EXPAL and Lockheed Martin are building for this program,” said Scott Greene, vice president of vehicle systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said in a statement. “This agreement provides an opportunity to leverage the program management and system integration skills of Lockheed Martin and the logistics capabilities of EXPAL to provide high levels of system readiness for Spanish forces.”
“This agreement provides the foundation for EXPAL to participate in the leadership of the AMV project for the Spanish Ministry of Defense’s future 8×8 program,” said Manuel Garcia Sanudo, general manager of EXPAL. “Assuring national industry involvement at the highest levels of the program, this offer is based on a strong industrial platform and technology transfer process and will provide the Spanish Ministry of Defense with the best solution to protect its troops.”
The VBR global team, beyond Lockheed Martin and EXPAL, includes Patria, the vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturer, and Spanish companies UROVESA, Gutmar, Oliva Torras, Tecnobit and FASUR. The Patria AMV provides the Spanish Ministry of Defense a combat proven, low-risk solution for its soldiers.