FEINDEF 2025: Escribano transforms the Vamtac ST5 armored vehicle into a complete C-UAS platform to counter drone incursions.

At FEINDEF 2025, Escribano Mechanical & Engineering Group (EM&E Group) introduced a new counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) vehicle based on the Uro Vamtac ST5 armored vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with multiple subsystems, including four radar panels, a remote weapon station with optronic guidance and a 40mm grenade launcher, and a 360-degree surveillance system derived from the SIVE network used by the Spanish Guardia Civil. The Vamtac C-UAS complements other equipment displayed at the event, such as the Ferox 6x6 armored vehicle and another Vamtac fitted with the 120mm EMOC mortar.
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In the Vamtac C-UAS, the Guardian 2.0 provides precision firepower against airborne threats, the MHR offers wide-area detection with dynamic mission reconfigurability, and the SIVE-derived surveillance module ensures persistent monitoring and intelligence support. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The primary firepower and hard-kill component of this Vamtac-based system is almost certainly the Guardian 2.0, a dual-axis, gyro-stabilized remote weapon station (RWS) that supports multiple weapon types, including 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and 12.7mm machine guns, the MK19 40mm automatic grenade launcher, the M134D minigun, and smoke grenade launchers. Designed for both day and night operations, this RWS includes programmable inhibition zones and is compatible with external C4I systems. It also integrates a ballistic computer and supports installation on a variety of platforms. Guardian 2.0 has been adopted by the Spanish Army for the VCR Dragón in both Infantry Fighting Vehicle (VCI) and Forward Observer (VCOAV) versions. The turrets on these platforms are equipped with 12.7mm Browning M2 heavy machine guns and 12 smoke grenade launchers.

The electro-optical system on the Guardian 2.0 includes a day sight camera with a CMOS sensor (1920x1080 pixels), a 44x optical zoom, and a display resolution of 1024x768. It also features a cooled mid-wave infrared (MWIR) camera using a third-generation 640x512 pixel sensor with 20x optical and 4x electronic zoom. Both sensors provide multiple fields of view, enabling detection, recognition, and identification of NATO targets at various distances up to 20 kilometers. The integrated laser range finder operates at a wavelength of 1550 nm with a programmable frequency of up to 10 Hz and a maximum range of 15 km. Stabilization is rated at less than 1 milliradian, and the total system weight is under 240 kg, excluding weapons and ammunition.

The Guardian 2.0 has been tested in various operational environments, including a live exercise led by the Spanish Antiaircraft Artillery Command at the Médano del Loro test range. During these tests, the turret was fitted with a MK19 grenade launcher using Nammo Plasencia’s 40×53mm HEDP-RF airburst grenades and a Dillon M134D minigun. The system also participated in the NATO Technical Interoperability Exercise (TIE23) held in the Netherlands, where it was evaluated for integration with broader C-UAS systems developed by Spanish companies. The configuration demonstrated successful integration with detection and inhibition subsystems developed by TRC and was confirmed to operate with artificial intelligence for threat identification and engagement.

The primary firepower and hard-kill component of the Vamtac C-UAS is almost certainly the Guardian 2.0, a remote weapon station (RWS) that supports multiple weapon types, such as the MK19 40mm automatic grenade launcher. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Detection capabilities on this new Vamtac C-UAS configuration are likely provided by the Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar (MHR) from DRS RADA Technologies. Each MHR panel is a non-rotating, solid-state AESA radar operating in the S-band and designed to support multiple roles, including Counter-UAS, SHORAD, and C-RAM. One panel offers 90° azimuth coverage, with a four-panel system achieving full 360° hemispheric surveillance. The radar is software-defined, enabling real-time mission reconfiguration without hardware changes. It uses GaN amplifiers and supports passive cooling. Each panel weighs 23 kg and consumes 320 W of power. Interfaces include Ethernet and serial channels, and the radar can manage hundreds of simultaneous tracks using track-while-scan methods.

The MHR system offers varying detection capabilities depending on the variant and target type. The RPS-40 variant detects and tracks projectiles such as mortars and rockets, with trajectory tracking ranges up to 10 km. The RPS-42 is optimized for tactical air surveillance, detecting UAVs, helicopters, and aircraft at ranges of up to 50 km. The RPS-44 focuses on border and coastal protection, tracking both aerial and surface targets such as vehicles and vessels up to 40 km. Minimum detectable altitudes start at 30 feet, with maximum detection altitude reaching 30,000 feet. The radar provides spatial accuracy below 0.5° and speed accuracy down to 1 m/s, and it can operate while moving or deployed statically.

The development and production of the MHR system fall under the responsibility of DRS RADA Technologies, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leonardo DRS. In 2022, this Israeli-origin company merged with Leonardo’s U.S. defense subsidiary, becoming a major player in radar-based force protection. RADA specializes in AESA-based tactical radars for applications such as active protection systems (APS), short-range air defense (SHORAD), and counter-rockets, artillery, and mortars (C-RAM). Its MHR systems have been deployed in U.S. Marine Corps vehicles and in Rafael’s anti-drone systems for NATO forces. Since its acquisition by Leonardo DRS, RADA has contributed to programs such as M-SHORAD, SOCOM SIP, USMC GBAD, and USAF ABAD. The MHR continues to be in service with U.S. and allied platforms, using standardized interfaces for integration with both soft-kill and hard-kill solutions.

Detection capabilities on this new Vamtac C-UAS configuration are likely provided by the Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar (MHR), originally developed by DRS RADA Technologies. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The third subsystem in this Vamtac-based configuration is the 360-degree surveillance suite based on Spain’s SIVE (Sistema Integrado de Vigilancia Exterior). The SIVE system, operated by the Guardia Civil, includes coastal and land-based sensor stations integrating radar, electro-optical systems, and command and control centers. EM&E’s OTEOS-S electro-optical systems are part of the SIVE’s modernization efforts. OTEOS-S integrates visible and infrared cameras with a laser range finder. It offers mechanical stabilization below 0.15 mRad, full 360° azimuth and -60° to +60° elevation coverage, and a rotation speed exceeding 30°/s. The system has been deployed for maritime and border surveillance in areas such as Ceuta, Melilla, and the Strait of Gibraltar.

The OTEOS-S incorporates a high-definition day camera (1280x720 pixels) with 64x continuous zoom, as well as a third-generation cooled MWIR infrared sensor, also at 1280x720 resolution, with 20x optical zoom. Detection ranges for NATO targets exceed 26 kilometers, with recognition and identification ranges decreasing according to target profile and environmental conditions. The laser range finder supports a maximum range of 10.1 km and operates with a programmable frequency between 0.2 Hz and 1 Hz. The system is designed to communicate with radars and command systems and is suitable for both fixed and mobile deployment. The associated PERSEO command and control (C2) system integrates artificial intelligence functions to support threat classification, automatic alert generation, and decision support, improving situational awareness and response coordination across mobile and fixed platforms.

EM&E Group holds maintenance contracts for most of the SIVE network, specifically for deployments in Las Palmas, the Strait of Gibraltar, the Southeast Area, and the Levante Area. These contracts total over €19 million, with potential expansion through extensions. The company works in cooperation with radar manufacturer ART and other domestic firms, replacing legacy systems previously supplied by foreign vendors. The SIVE modernization program includes sensor duplication, data transmission upgrades, and enhanced protection against drone threats. The OTEOS system is also installed on Guardia Civil maritime assets operating in the Mediterranean, Balearic Islands, and Canary Islands.

By integrating Guardian 2.0, MHR panels, and the OTEOS-S into a single vehicle, Escribano’s Vamtac-based platform combines surveillance, detection, and engagement capabilities into a modular and mobile counter-UAS system. Each subsystem is already deployed in national programs or allied military forces. In the resulting configuration, the Guardian 2.0 provides precision firepower against airborne threats, the MHR offers wide-area detection with dynamic mission reconfigurability, and the SIVE-derived surveillance module ensures persistent monitoring and intelligence support.

The third subsystem in this Vamtac C-UAS variant is the 360-degree surveillance suite based on Spain’s SIVE (Sistema Integrado de Vigilancia Exterior), an AI-enhanced surveillance operated by the Spanish Guardia Civil. (Picture source: Army Recognition)