Urovesa presented its new Vamtac AX4 to Army Chief of Staff Gen. Amador Enseñat y Berea during a visit to the company’s facilities in Valga, Pontevedra. The 4×4 tactical vehicle has a maximum weight of between 17 and 18 metric tons and was designed to provide greater payload capacity, space and protection than the Vamtac ST5.
The visit included a demonstration at Urovesa’s test track, where the Army Chief of Staff was able to assess the AX4’s mobility and off-road performance. The company is preparing a dedicated assembly line in Valga for the first half of 2027, with serial production expected to begin that same year.
Capacity for 11 occupants and four tons of payload
The version displayed by Urovesa at the Eurosatory trade show in Paris is configured to carry a squad of up to 11 occupants. It has a payload capacity of four tons and a higher level of protection against mines and ballistic threats than the ST5. It can also be fitted with various systems, including a remote weapon station from Spanish company EM&E.
The AX4 uses a monocoque body, has no chassis frame and is equipped with a Cummins engine. Its maximum weight remains within the limit set for two-axle road vehicles in the European Union. The platform can accommodate additional armor, particularly to enhance mine protection, while its dimensions are smaller than those of MRAP-category vehicles.
Urovesa has focused on a relatively low center of gravity and a suspension system designed to maintain traction in demanding terrain despite the increased payload and protection. The company positions the AX4 as a modular platform and is developing ambulance, recovery, electronic warfare and command-post configurations, as well as a mortar-carrier variant with a larger caliber than that currently integrated into the Vamtac ST5.
More than €50 million to expand Valga and Santiago
The industrialization of the AX4 is part of Urovesa’s expansion plan, which includes investments of more than €50 million at its facilities in Valga and Santiago de Compostela. The project covers more than 100,000 square meters and includes storage areas, paint facilities and new assembly lines, as well as lifecycle support capabilities for equipment intended for the Army.
According to the company’s forecasts, the expansion will create just over 100 direct jobs and more than 400 indirect jobs. Urovesa positions the AX4 as a model complementary to the ST5, currently in service in around 30 countries, and as its main industrial undertaking of recent years.
Visit to Galicia VII Brigade
Enseñat’s itinerary in Galicia also included a visit to the Galicia VII Brigade, based at General Morillo base in Figueirido, Pontevedra. There, he reviewed the unit’s readiness and the implementation of Operation Centinela Gallego, through which the Army supports the regional government of Galicia in fighting wildfires.
The operation involves Army and Marine Infantry ground patrols supported by unmanned aerial systems. The Army Chief of Staff also visited the newly opened Cachamuíña Early Childhood Education Center, designed to help personnel at the Pontevedra garrison balance family and work responsibilities.
