VCR 8x8 Dragon (in test)

The VCR 8x8 Dragon is a new generation 8x8 wheeled combat vehicle developed for the Spanish Army, based on the General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) Piranha V platform. It is designed to replace older vehicles like the BMR-600 and provides enhanced protection, firepower, and mobility for various mission profiles.

The VCR 8x8 Dragón program was initiated in 2007 to address the Spanish Army's urgent need for highly protected wheeled armor following vulnerability concerns with older platforms during deployments in Lebanon and Afghanistan. In 2020, the Spanish Ministry of Defence signed a contract with the Tess Defence consortium to manufacture an initial batch of 348 vehicles, incorporating domestic subsystems such as advanced communication suites and remote weapon stations. The first production-standard test vehicles were delivered to the Spanish Legion in late 2022 for extensive operational evaluation and crew training. While the vehicle has not yet seen combat, it remains in its critical testing and induction phase, with full-rate production and deployment planned to establish the backbone of Spain's mechanized infantry forces through the 2030s.