Tensions are rising in Spain between the Ministry of Defense and Indra, the company responsible for manufacturing armored vehicles for the army. The conflict stems from repeated delays in the rollout of the new 8×8 Dragon vehicles, which were originally scheduled to be deployed last year.
In early April 2025, the military received only 11 units, despite initial plans to deliver 92 vehicles to the army by the end of 2024. The remaining armored vehicles are still undergoing testing and are not yet ready for use. Delivery of the full batch of 348 vehicles has now been postponed at least until 2027, and the timeline may be adjusted further.
The Defense Ministry leadership, including Minister Margarita Robles and Secretary of State Amparo Valcarce, met with representatives of Indra and Tess Defence to express their dissatisfaction with the current situation. During the meeting, officials did not rule out additional measures if the company does not speed up production and fulfill its contractual obligations.
Earlier, the manufacturer was already fined more than 9 million euros for failing to meet deadlines and technical requirements. However, even these penalties did not lead to a noticeable acceleration in progress. Frustration within the ministry continues to grow over the ongoing delays, while the possibility of tightening control over defense contractors is increasingly being discussed in political circles.
Indra, which leads the Tess Defence consortium, attributes the delays to supply chain issues and logistical challenges. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Defense is demanding strict adherence to the revised deadlines and has warned of possible legal action. In the coming months, the situation surrounding the 8×8 Dragon program will remain in the spotlight, as the renewal of the Spanish Army’s armored vehicle fleet depends on its implementation.
