FEINDEF 2025 – GDELS and KNDS: ASCOD + AGM = Nemesis

At FEINDEF 2025, the defence exhibition held every two years in Madrid, GDELS and KNDS unveiled the new tracked self propelled artillery system made of the ASCOD chassis in an upgraded variant coupled with the well known Artillery Gun Module, and announced its name, Nemesis. The event was witnessed by a close relative of the Nemesis, its wheeled counterpart, made of the 10×10 Piranha chassis fitted with the same artillery module. This was launched in 2024, was selected by the Swiss Army, its manufacturing staring soon, and was being exhibited for the first time in public in the halls of the IFEMA Madrid exhibition centre

Presenting the new artillery system Juan Antonio Escriña Aldeanueva, CEO of Santa Barbara Systems (SBS) and vice president of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) said: “This is the self-propelled artillery of today and tomorrow, the most technologically advanced, the most versatile, and the one that will put artillery back where it belongs.” He also underlined the importance of intra-European cooperation in order to safeguard the Old Continent technological sovereignty; “we are dealing here with two 100 per cent European products, designed, produced, with 100 per cent European requirements, that can be manufactured in any of our business units, including Santa Barbara Systems, of course. In fact, the system we have here came from the factories in Trubia and Seville,” the CEO said. “This is the self-propelled artillery of today and tomorrow, the most technologically advanced, the most versatile, and the one that will put artillery back where it belongs,” he added.

The attempt to develop a self-propelled howitzer using the fully automated 155 mm / L52 AGM on the ASCOD chassis is not knew, as some 15 years ago the two companies, then with different names, developed the Donar; however at that time artillery was not high in land forces priorities, mostly involved in asymmetric operations, hence the attempt failed to attract customers. Now the situation has dramatically changed, the world is in full disorder, and Nemesis was the goddess from the Greek Pantheon who was in charge of restoring the lost order.

“Not long time ago, we all thought artillery was dead, but it was simply dormant and now it has resurfaced,” César Gomez-Pierrad, the Nemesis Programme Manager said, adding that “The purpose of these vehicles is to modernize artillery, taking it to the next level. These vehicles are capable of operating with just two crew members, and this is a complete shift in the paradigm and doctrine of artillery. Thanks to our experience we are capable of protecting our troops against any external threat, mines, IEDs, ballistics, and even against drones,” EDR On-Line understanding that the cabin is protected at Level 4 according to NATO STANAG 4569. Not only, the capacity to fire as soon as the vehicle stops, and even on the move, is a further protective measure, while that to fire on the 360° even on a terrain with a 30% incline with Charge 6, and to shoot 9 rounds per minute, ensures consistent firepower.

Moreover, we must not forget that the AGM is capable of operating in the MRSI (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact) mode, to fire at ranges of up to 54/70 km depending on the ammunition, and as option it can also engage targets with direct fire.

Talking to a GDELS-SBS senior engineering executive, EDR On-Line understood that the Nemesis is based on an evolved version of the ASCOD chassis, heavily based on that used for the British Army Ajax. The powerpack is however different, the Nemesis being fitted with a more powerful Scania engine providing 1,100 hp, albeit the speaker underlined that SBS is flexible in terms of powerpacks. To cope with the 40 tonnes mass of the Nemesis as well as with the 60 tonnes recoil forces when shooting, suspensions were upgraded. On standard ASCODs of the seven roadwheels only three are fitted with rotary dampers on suspensions, the Nemesis chassis having them on all road wheels.

A new suspension lever produced by additive manufacturing was visible; it is unclear if this is already fitted to the vehicle, this being a solution for improving MRO capability for deployed units, however the lever obtained with the new manufacturing technology is 10% lighter and 30% stiffer compared to the standard one. Another upgrade is the adoption the SATT, for Self-Adjusting Track Tensioner, a patented system that instantly adapts the track tension to the terrain, sensors providing instantaneous feedback. It can be used with both steel and rubber tracks, the Nemesis seen at FEINDEF adopting Soucy composite tracks. The track tension constant optimisation allows increasing tracks life, reducing running gear wear, and reducing fuel consumption. Asked if the SATT can be retrofitted on older platforms, the speaker answered positively.

The Nemesis is fitted with the SBS NEVA (Next Generation Electronic Vehicle Architecture) based on the NVGA protocol, that allows simple and easy installation of any further subsystem.

EDR On-Line understood that GDELS-SBS is in active talks with the Spanish Army, that might need soon replacing its M109 SP howitzers. The vehicle seen at FEINDEF came off the assembly line just prior the Madrid exhibition, the company starting tests as soon as possible, although no dates were given for a possible first firing trial. Of course the new chassis, the umpteenth iteration of the original one, which can withstand a gross vehicle mass of 45 tonnes, will be available for other versions, one that was mentioned being and anti-aircraft, anti-drone system. A well known turret, also of German origin, was a few hundred meters down the aisle…

Photos by P. Valpolini