General Dynamics European Land System – Santa Bárbara Sistemas (GDELS-SBS) has reactivated its manufacturing capabilities of large caliber gun barrels, as a response to the increased demand for modern, efficient artillery. This revival reflects the company’s continued commitment to national as well as international defense and security requirements. The Trubia factory (Asturias, Spain), with more than 200 years of knowhow and tradition in the manufacture of cannons, has recently manufactured a vast range of large-caliber gun barrels, including 120mm, 105mm, and 155mm for main battle tanks and artillery.
“Operational experience from ongoing military confrontation demonstrate the renewed relevance of artillery as well as main battle tanks. GDELS-SBS is one of the few European companies that has preserved the knowledge and capabilities to manufacture gun barrels of the most demanded calibers for both weapon systems,” said Juan A. Escriña, General Director of GDELS-SBS.
In recent years, GDELS-SBS has manufactured more than two hundred 120mm gun barrels for the Leopard 2E main battle tank of the Spanish Army, over one hundred barrels for its SIAC 155/52 howitzer, both field and coastal artillery, as well as dozens of barrels for the 105 Light Gun, models L118 and L119. The SIAC is a state of the art 155/52 caliber towed howitzer with self-propelled capabilities thanks to its integrated APU (Auxiliary Power Unit). The L118 105 mm towed howitzer was originally designed and produced in the United Kingdom for the British Army in the 1970s. The L119 and the United States Army’s M119 are variants that use a different type of ammunition.
General Dynamics European Land System – Santa Bárbara Sistemas (GDELS-SBS) is the only Spanish company and one of the few in the world with the capacity to manufacture, maintain, and modernize artillery systems accroding to today’s demanding standards. The company’s long history and continuous innovation, as well as wide knowledge of artillery systems and armored vehicles, ensure persistent conformance with changing battlefield requirements and constitute a benachmark to successfully satisfy rightful customer expectations in view of quality and operational performance.
