Four major companies sign an agreement to develop a new 6x6 cavalry vehicle for the Spanish Army.
20 May, 2025
On May 14, 2025, the companies John Cockerill Defense, TSD Technology & Security Developments, Grupo Oesía, and FNSS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the supply of a 6×6 cavalry vehicle to the Spanish Army. The agreement sets out a cooperation framework between the four companies, each contributing specific expertise to deliver an off-the-shelf armored vehicle system. The stated objective is to offer the Spanish Army a solution that includes integrated local logistical support and full lifecycle management.
The agreement outlines a strategic industrial collaboration focusing on vehicle manufacturing and assembly, armored vehicle design, the supply of optronic systems, and the integration of manned turrets. (Picture source: John Cockerill)
FNSS will be responsible for the design of the armored vehicle platform; TSD will carry out the manufacturing and assembly of the vehicle; Grupo Oesía will provide the optronic systems; and John Cockerill Defense will handle the assembly and integration of a manned turret. The combined product is described by the companies as a technologically advanced armored solution developed for cavalry missions and fire support in expeditionary operations.
TSD Technology & Security Developments (TSD) is a Spanish company with over 25 years of operational experience. It is active in the design, development, and manufacturing of military vehicles. TSD has delivered more than 15,000 vehicles, currently in service in over 80 countries across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. Headquartered in Spain, the company also maintains offices in Chile and Kazakhstan, and employs approximately 300 personnel. Its production facilities cover 326,000 square meters and are equipped with industrial systems such as laser cutting tools, CNC milling machines, and robotic welding equipment.
TSD’s production range includes the Ibero series of armored vehicles, which are available in various versions to meet different operational requirements, as well as vehicle bodies for military use, command and control units, border control and surveillance vehicles, shelters, and customized armored platforms. The company offers tailored vehicle designs for military, police, and security organizations and provides maintenance and support services linked to its products.
Grupo Oesía is a private, Spanish multinational company active in dual-use digital and industrial engineering. The company operates in over 40 countries and employs more than 3,200 people. Its activities span nearly five decades. Grupo Oesía is structured into five brands: Oesía Networks, which focuses on digital transformation; Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía, which provides systems for intelligent vision, tactical simulation, and secure communications; Cipherbit-Grupo Oesía, which develops cybersecurity and encryption solutions; UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía, which specializes in guidance, navigation, and control systems for unmanned aerial vehicles such as the Ruta missile; and Inster-Grupo Oesía, which develops satellite communications systems for use across terrestrial, naval, aerial, and space platforms. UAV Navigation has produced technologies such as a GNSS-Denied Navigation Kit that combines its Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) with a Visual Navigation System (VNS01) to maintain navigation accuracy in environments without GPS access. For this project, Grupo Oesía’s contribution is the delivery of optronic subsystems to be integrated into the proposed cavalry vehicle.
FNSS Defence Systems is a Turkish company established in 1988 as a joint venture between Nurol Holding of Türkiye and FMC Corporation of the United States. The company was originally created to meet the Turkish Armed Forces’ demand for tracked armored vehicles, beginning with a contract to produce 1,698 units. Over time, FNSS expanded its offerings to include both tracked and wheeled armored combat vehicles, engineering vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles, turret systems, and hybrid powertrain solutions. As of 2025, FNSS is fully owned by Nurol Holding following the acquisition of shares previously held by BAE Systems. FNSS produces tracked vehicles such as the ACV and Kaplan families, wheeled vehicles like the PARS 6x6 and 8x8, amphibious vehicles such as the Zaha Marine Assault Vehicle, and engineering vehicles like the AACE and Otter. The company also develops turret systems, including the Teber and Saber series, as well as robotic platforms such as the Shadow Rider. FNSS has delivered thousands of armored vehicles globally and is tasked with vehicle design for the proposed 6×6 cavalry system under the MoU.
It is worth noting that at FEINDEF 2025, two of the companies involved in the 6×6 cavalry vehicle MoU, FNSS and John Cockerill Defense, were already presenting an integrated solution combining their respective systems. (Picture source: FNSS)
John Cockerill Defense, headquartered in Belgium, is part of the John Cockerill Group, which was founded in 1817. Originally established as a manufacturer of steam engines, artillery, and steelworks, the company evolved through the 19th and 20th centuries and was known as Cockerill Maintenance & Ingénierie (CMI) until 2019, when it returned to its original name. In 2024, John Cockerill Defense expanded its operations by acquiring the French firm Arquus, which manufactures armored vehicles used by the French and Belgian armed forces. Today, John Cockerill Defense develops, manufactures, integrates, and upgrades weapon systems for calibers ranging from 25 mm to 120 mm.
Its product lines include the Cockerill 3000 modular turret series and the Cockerill i-X, a ground-based interceptor with high speed and configurable stealth features. The turret selected for integration into the Spanish 6×6 vehicle is the Cockerill 3030, a manned system equipped with a 30 mm cannon capable of firing airburst munitions. The turret provides protection to STANAG 4569 Level 4 and includes a ready-to-fire capacity of 250 rounds, which represents a 20% increase in ammunition load compared to other systems of similar category. Over 300 Cockerill 3030 turrets have already been produced, delivered, and placed in operational service.
The platform proposed under this agreement is positioned as an off-the-shelf solution using existing and validated subsystems. The intent is to equip the Spanish Army with a vehicle suitable for use by cavalry and expeditionary units. The design integrates a wheeled 6×6 armored vehicle base with advanced targeting, observation, and firepower capabilities. Each partner in the agreement contributes a subsystem with an established production and deployment history. The cooperation also includes a domestic production component and aims to provide in-country support capabilities for logistics, maintenance, and system upgrades throughout the vehicle’s operational lifespan.
The planned 6×6 vehicle combines components developed in Belgium, Spain, and Türkiye. The turret system from John Cockerill Defense will deliver a high-density fire support capability. FNSS's armored platform design will be tailored to meet Spanish operational specifications while incorporating modularity and mobility. Grupo Oesía's optronic suite will enhance situational awareness, reconnaissance, and engagement functions, and TSD will ensure final vehicle production and assembly take place in Spain. The agreement stipulates a collaborative industrial approach that integrates existing production assets, avoids redundant development costs, and offers a localized sustainment pathway aligned with the Spanish defense sector’s long-term support goals.
The MoU reflects a broader industry trend toward modular, exportable vehicle programs designed around existing combat systems and built through multi-country industrial cooperation. It emphasizes the use of existing technologies that are already in production or operational, minimizing risk and reducing time to delivery. The proposed vehicle is structured around a balanced approach that integrates firepower, mobility, and survivability. The companies also intend for the system to be adaptable for other potential export customers, depending on mission requirements and user configurations. The agreement is limited to the current scope of collaboration for the Spanish Army’s needs and does not include a formal production contract at this stage. Further details, including timelines and potential order volumes, remain subject to future developments and procurement decisions by the Spanish Ministry of Defence.
It is relevant to mention that during the same edition of the FEINDEF 2025 exhibition, two of the companies involved in the proposed 6×6 cavalry vehicle for the Spanish Army, FNSS and John Cockerill Defense, also presented a conceptual integration of their respective technologies in a separate platform. Specifically, FNSS exhibited the Pars Alpha 6x6, a fire support and reconnaissance vehicle developed for the Turkish Land Forces, equipped with the Cockerill 3030 turret produced by John Cockerill Defense. This configuration combines the high transport capacity and off-road mobility of the Pars Alpha chassis with the firepower and hunter-killer capabilities of the 30mm manned turret. The appearance of this vehicle at FEINDEF highlights an existing level of technical compatibility between subsystems from FNSS and John Cockerill Defense and illustrates how the same components featured in the Spanish proposal are already being considered together in another defense context.
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