Spain Has Confirmed Delivery Of Uro Vamtac Multi-Purpose Armored Vehicles To Ukraine
The Spanish Ministry of Defence has recently confirmed the delivery of URO VAMTAC (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico) 4×4 multi-purpose armored vehicles to Ukraine. The confirmation came during a visit by the Spanish Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, to the facilities of the Urovesa company in Valga, Pontevedra, where the vehicles in question are manufactured.
Margarita Robles said that Urovesa, which has an international presence in 20 countries, ‘not only supplies the Spanish Armed Forces but also has an important international projection.’ Robles thanked the company, which she described as a ‘benchmark’ in the armored land vehicle manufacturer sector, for its ability to adapt its production to specific needs at any time and for its support to Ukraine. The minister also stressed the high quality of the Spanish defense industry and expressed support for the employment of young personnel needed in this sector.
In his speech, the Spanish Defence Minister did not comment on details such as the number and versions of VAMTACs delivered to Ukraine, but it is known that the Ukrainian armed forces (SVZSU) have been familiar with at least 20 of these equipment since last year and has been actively using them on the battlefield.
The URO VAMTAC is a 4×4 High Mobility Tactical Vehicle, similar to the US Humvee, developed by the Spanish company URO, Vehiculos Especiales SA. The vehicle is 4.845 meters long, 2.175 meters wide, and 1.9 meters high. The vehicle has an empty weight of approximately 3,500 kilograms and a payload capacity ranging from 1,500 kilograms to 2,000 kilograms. There are many different versions of the VAMTAC with varying types of hull. These include ambulance versions, anti-tank and anti-aircraft models, command and control vehicles, and vehicles adapted to reconnaissance and support roles.
The VAMTAC is powered by a 188-horsepower M16-‘Monoblock’ engine (6-cylinder, turbocharged diesel) and a five-speed automatic transmission. It can reach a maximum speed of 135 km/h and has an operating range of more than 600 kilometers. It can also cope with steep slopes and rough terrain.