The Spanish Army (Ejército de Tierra) has awarded URO, Vehículos Especiales, S.A. (UROVESA) a contract for the supply of a batch of medical and other vehicles at a cost of 6.8 million euros, including taxes. Infodefensa reported that the vehicles are required to be delivered by December 15th. The URO VAMTAC (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico, “High Mobility Tactical Vehicle”) is a Spanish four-wheel drive military vehicle manufactured by UROVESA. The ambulance version of this vehicle, known as the “ST5,” is an armored ambulance designed to enhance the working conditions of medical personnel while providing a level of mobility and protection on par with the forces it supports. This version is already in service with other armies, including the Portuguese. The vehicle boasts some remarkable features, equipped with a medical cell complete with electromedical equipment, immobilization tools, diagnostic materials, and treatment supplies.
The URO VAMTAC was developed by the Spanish company URO, Vehiculos Especiales S.A. so that it would meet the requirements of the Spanish military for a multipurpose, air-portable, high mobility off-road vehicle with good payload capacity. Externally it is similar in appearance and design to the Humvee of the United States Military due to similar requirements. More than 2,000 of the vehicles have been delivered to the Spanish Armed Forces. Several other countries operate the VAMTAC as well, and it has seen service most recently in Afghanistan and Syria. The vehicle comes in three models, named I3, S3 and ST5, and has several configurations. One of the standout features of the “ST5” is its level of protection. It’s not just a medical van; it’s a fully armored vehicle with protection for both the cab and the medical area against ballistic impacts, mines, IEDs, and also provides NBC protection.
Approximately 1,200 units were delivered to the Spanish military under the initial contract from 1998. Roughly 60 percent of these were of the T5 model (later S3), and the rest were T3 (later I3). The URO VAMTAC comes with four-wheel drive capability, and is available in three primary configurations – command and control, chassis-cab, and pick-up. The first comes with a four-door cab. The latter two versions are available with three cab types: two-door, four-door, or a four-door version with smaller rear doors and less cab space. Shelter type or cargo bodies such as hardtops can be added to the rear compartment, as well as weapons. It can accommodate a wide range of weapons including machine guns, grenade launchers, anti-tank missiles, 81 mm mortars, M40 recoilless rifles and light air defence missiles.
The vehicle has a length of 4.845 metres (15.90 ft) width of 2.175 metres (7 ft 1.6 in) and a height of 1.9 metres (6 ft 3 in). The curb weight of the vehicle ranges from 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb) to 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb), and has a payload capacity ranging from 1,500 kilograms (3,300 lb) to 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb). Both these specifications vary depending on the version. The URO VAMTAC has a range of more than 600 kilometres (370 mi), and can negotiate 70% gradients and 50% side slopes. It is powered by Steyr Motors’ M16-“Monoblock” engine (6-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine, 135 kW (181 hp; 184 PS)) coupled with a five speed automatic transmission.[2] The I3 uses a 166 metric horsepower (122 kW; 164 hp) engine, while the S3 is equipped with a 188 metric horsepower (138 kW; 185 hp) one.
