Spanish 8x8 wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicle providing high mobility and firepower for cavalry and reconnaissance units. Dragon VCR (Vehículo de Combate y Reconocimiento, "Combat and Reconnaissance Vehicle") features a 30mm Bushmaster II autocannon in LANCE 2.0 turret with 200 rounds ready, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, Spike-LR anti-tank missiles, modern fire control system with thermal imaging and laser rangefinder, comprehensive digital situational awareness systems, protection against 14.5mm armor-piercing rounds and mine blast, amphibious capability, and network connectivity. Weight of approximately 24 tonnes. Powered by Scania 600 hp diesel providing road speed exceeding 100 km/h and range of 800 km. Crew of 3. The Dragon VCR equipped Spanish cavalry regiments replacing aging Centauro B1 wheeled tank destroyers and providing reconnaissance capability superior to tracked vehicles for strategic mobility. The system provides excellent firepower for engaging light armored vehicles and infantry while maintaining strategic mobility on roads. Approximately 100+ vehicles delivered to Spanish Army from 2020 onwards. Represents modernization of Spanish mechanized reconnaissance capabilities.
![General Dynamics logo](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="200" height="60" viewBox="0 0 200 60"><rect width="200" height="60" fill="%23111"/><text x="100" y="38" font-family="Arial" font-weight="bold" font-size="12" fill="%23c8a84b" text-anchor="middle">GENERAL DYNAMICS</text></svg>)
- Modern clean-sheet 8x8 design replacing aging BMR/VEC fleet
- Modular armor allows protection scaling for mission requirements
- Designed for interoperability with NATO partners
- Multiple variants planned for diverse battlefield roles
- Program still in development — no operational track record
- Competes in crowded 8x8 market against Boxer, Patria AMV, Piranha
- Spanish-only procurement limits economies of scale
- Development delays have pushed IOC further
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