In a display of military prowess marking their 88th Anniversary on December 21, 2023, the Philippines Army unveiled their latest addition: the ASCOD (Austrian Spanish Cooperation Development) Command Vehicle. This formidable machine incorporates a sophisticated command and control system sourced from the renowned Israeli company, Elbit Systems. What sets this vehicle apart is its integration of Elbit’s advanced UT25 unmanned turret, boasting a potent 25mm automatic cannon. This marks a significant stride as Elbit Systems triumphed in securing the Light Tank Acquisition Project for the Philippine Army. Originally, the Philippine Army had requisitioned a fleet of 144 light tanks/tank destroyers, and under the terms of the contract, Elbit Systems will be supplying: 18 tracked light tanks based on the ASCOD 2 platform, 1 command vehicle based on the ASCOD 2 platform, 1 recovery vehicle based on the ASCOD 2 platform and 10 wheeled light tanks based on the Pandur II platform.
Maxdefense reported that It has C2 and comms from Elbit Systems & is equipped with Elbit’s UT25 unarmed turret with 25mm autocannon. The size of the UT25 appears to have been reduced compared to those installed on some of the Philiippine Army’s M113A2. The UT-25 are dual-axis stabilized systems for 25 Guns, optionally integrated with anti-tank missiles. Among their outstanding design features are a very low silhouette, light weight and a fold-flat capability. The UT25 turret can actually fit the 30mm autocannon if the Philippine Army wishes to do an upgrade. Elbit Systems, having clinched a three-year contract valued at $172 million to supply the Sabrah light tanks to the Philippine Army in January 2021, achieved a significant milestone with the official handover of the inaugural Sabrah on December 23, 2022.
Weighing 30t, the Sabrah (ASCOD) light tank series has a modular design. It is equipped with wheeled configurations and a common 105mm manned turret or unmanned turret. The armoured fighting vehicle’s fully-electric turret drive provides stabilization in both elevation and traverse. The dual-axis high-performance turret provides hunter-killer capability. The tank provides an optimal combination of firepower and maneuverability. It can be configured to provide enhanced lethality. The Sabrah is fitted with armour protection systems to provide ballistic protection up to NATO STANAG 4569 Level 4. The armoured fighting vehicle can be integrated with active protection systems. It includes the company’s TORCH-X battle management system. The combat-proven armoured vehicle is also installed with electro-optical (EO) sights, fire control systems, and life support systems.
The ASCOD armoured fighting vehicle family is the product of a cooperation agreement between Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG and Spanish General Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas (both companies are now divisions of a unit of General Dynamics). The ASCOD family includes the LT 105 light tank equipped with a 105 mm gun, a surface-to-air missile launcher, an anti-tank guided missile launcher, mortar carrier, R&R vehicle, command and control vehicle, ambulance, artillery observer, and the AIFV model. In Spanish service, the vehicle is called “Pizarro”, while the Austrian version is called “Ulan”. The ASCOD vehicle was chosen by the UK MoD as the common base platform on which the Ajax would be developed. The M10 Booker derived from the ASCOD 2, was selected in June 2022 as the winner of the US Army’s Mobile Protected Firepower program.
