In a significant move aimed at bolstering defense capabilities, Ukrainian manufacturer Praktika has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Spain’s Tecnove and Escribano Mechanical & Engineering. The partnership will focus on the joint production of armored vehicles within Spain, marking an important collaboration between Ukrainian and Spanish defense enterprises.
This initiative will see the development of various multi-purpose armored vehicles, encompassing not just combat units but also fire support platforms and specialized models tailored for different operational needs such as ambulances, electronic warfare, and command-and-staff vehicles. Additionally, the partnership will include the creation of non-militarized armored systems designed for demining activities and the safe transportation of explosives.
This project is noteworthy as it stands as the first co-production effort for armored vehicles undertaken by Praktika in collaboration with the League of Defense Enterprises of Ukraine, an association that includes over 75 private companies, and it takes place on EU soil. The memorandum is designed to merge the partners’ expertise in specialized and military automotive production, with a view to jointly develop and manufacture armored vehicles not only for Spain but also for the EU, Ukraine, and other allied nations.
Yulia Vysotska, the Director of Praktika, emphasized that this collaboration represents a logical progression in enhancing defense capabilities. “For us, this is a logical step — to transfer the combat experience of Ukrainian armored vehicles into joint production chains with partners from the EU,” she remarked. Vysotska added that the cooperation would enhance the capabilities of Ukraine’s Defense Forces while providing allied nations with modern, battle-tested solutions.
The assembly of these vehicles will occur in a newly established 25,000-square-meter (approximately 269,098-square-foot) industrial facility located in Herencia, in the Madrid region of Spain, developed by Tecnove specifically for defense and security manufacturing. The facility will handle large-unit assembly processes, utilizing components sourced from Praktika’s production sites in Ukraine. The finished armored platforms are expected to meet both Ukrainian and Spanish military operational requirements.
For the Ukrainian defense industry, this project presents an opportunity to integrate homegrown combat solutions within European production chains, thereby boosting the production capacity for armored vehicles while retaining critical competencies in Ukraine. Furthermore, this collaboration is set to enhance the role of private defense producers in programs associated with the EU and NATO, paving the way for increased collaboration in military innovation and manufacturing.
