General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDLS) is an automotive and arms manufacturer spread across Europe, with a headquarter in Madrid, Spain. It is a business unit of General Dynamics which consolidated in one structure all European subsidiaries of GDLS.
At the beginning of the years 2000, General Dynamics acquired major European defence companies, and consolidated the activities and expanded the collaborations.[citation needed]
General Dynamics Corporation acquired the defence activity of EWK Eisenwerke Kaiserslautern [de] in October 2002 and became GDELS - Germany in 2003[2]
General Dynamics European Land Systems was founded in 2003[3]
General Dynamics Corporation acquired the land defence vehicles unit of Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH [de] in October 2003, and incorporated it to GDELS. Prior the full acquisition, General Dynamics already owned 25% of the company.[4]
In 1999, the defence unit of General Motors Canada acquired Mowag Motorwagenfabrik AG. In March 2003,General Dynamics acquired General Motors Canad. By 2004, it was integrated to GDELS and became GDELS - Mowag GmbH.[5]
In November 2018, General Dynamics Corporation acquired FWW Fahrzeugwerk GmbH in Woldegk, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and it became GDELS - FWW GmbH in November 2019.[6] FWW had been founded in 2001, to repair wheeled and tracked vehicles and components, "partnering with the Bundeswehr, NATO, Western European countries and the United Nations".[7]
Within General Dynamics Corporation, as of January 2022, GDELS is one of the three "Combat Systems" business units, and all have there subsidiaries:[8][9]
General Dynamics European Land Systems, S.L (based in Spain)
General Dynamics - Ordnance and Tactical Systems (based in USA)
Note: The Botswanan, Czech, Danish and Romanian subsidiaries are liaison offices regarding contracts in execution with the military of these countries.[9]
For General Dynamics Corporation, Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH [de] was an interesting prospect as they were collaborating with Santa Barbara Sistemas A GD subsidiary prior to its acquisition on the program ASCOD (Austrian - Spanish Cooperative Development), a new tracked infantry fighting vehicle.
EWK Eisenwerke Kaiserslautern [de] was created as a steel construction company in 1864. In 2002, the defence activity was acquired by General Dynamics, it was temporarly associated to Santa Bárbara Sistemas. In 2003 GDELS was created, and EWK became GDELS– Bridge Systems GmbH, a subsidiary of GDELS - Deutschland GmbH. The core defence activity is focused on military bridging systems.
IRB (Improved Ribbon Bridge), MLC85 capacity: It is based on the American SRB (Standard Ribbon Bridge). It is a product offered by GDELS – Bridge Systems GmbH although it was initially an American product [14]
ANACONDA, (MLC85 capacity, with 22 m gaps): It is the evolution of the BIBER [de] bridge launcher, the system is available on tanks.[18][19] A new variant is offered in collaboration with Rheinmetall with its truck, the HX2.[20]
PYTHON, (MLC80+ capacity with 13 m gaps): It is known as the Rapidly employed bridge system (REBS), it is typically launched from 10-15 tons 8×8 trucks, it is also available for vehicles like the Piranha IV, Piranha V, and Boxer.[21][22]
COBRA, (MLC50 capacity with 15 m gaps): It is a variable folding bridge, flexible, prototypes of this bridge exist on the Boxer, the ASCOD 2, the Piranha IV and V. Pearson Engineering supplies temporary or permanent support Bridge Launching Mechanism.[23]
VIPER, (MLC40 capacity with 4, 6 and 8 meters gaps): It is a lightweight modular multi.purpose solution that can be adapted on light armoured vehicles like the Mowag Eagle V (4×4).
QBB (2.5 m unprepared gaps span): It is a very lightweight Quad Bike Bridge.
MAMBA (span of 30 m):[24][25] Ultra lightweight footbridge, to be used by to cross wide gaps, assembled by hand, and transportable by light trucks, helicopters, etc. It is already operational with the German Army.
Gallery of equipment of GDELS - Bridge Systems GmbH
FWW Fahrzeugwerk GmbH is a company that was founded in 2001. It was developed as a service and maintenance provider for military costumers. Its main client became the German Army. It also has activities as an arms dealer.[26]
General Dynamics Corporation expanded its business in land systems at the beginning of the years 2000. General Motors Canada and its subsidiaries were a major player in the field of light and middle armoured vehicles. The main vehicles being manufactured by GM Canada included the highly successful Mowag Piranha family and its derivatives:
Mowag Motorwagenfabrik AG was therefore part of the acquisition in 2003, and as the corporate structure was adapted, Mowag was put under the leadership of GDELS S.L. but it still collaborated heavily with GDLS Canada, GDLS USA, and GD UK.[citation needed]
Duro was developed and manufactured by Bucher-Guyer AG. The program was acquired by Mowag Motorwagenfabrik AG in 2003, after it was purchased by General Dynamics Corporation.[30]
LTV Merlin, Light Tactical Vehicle [36] This is a new vehicle offered, fitting the requirements for airborne, special forces and light infantry, it fits in the CH-47 and CH-53.
General Dynamics acquired SBS in 2001. SBS is the primary supplier of land equipment for the Spanish Army, and it is also involved on other equipment for the Spanish and European military forces. It has also some parts of the business focused on civilian sectors (aeronautics, as well as thermal and surface treatments).
VAC,[47] successor planned to the 600 M113 in the Spanish Army, based on the VCZ Castor chassis., to be produced from 2024, and to be fitted with the same equipment and combat system as on the Dragon VCR. Vehicle in development and to be produced by Tess defence, a joint venture of SBS, Indra Sistemas, Sapa, and Escribano M&E.
2,400 (2023)
https://www.gdels.com/
