Changan Kaicene F70The Santana Aníbal SUV is one of the main vehicles of the Spanish army, which has about 2,000 of these vehicles. This pickup truck was purchased two decades ago, in 2004, and, according to the local military, "has become our headache for many years."
Despite the hopes placed on him, Aníbal soon demonstrated his technical inadequacy, thoroughly failing every 5,000 km. The turning point came in 2008, when several serious incidents were reported in the army, some of which led to deaths. Then not only the reliability, but also the safety of the car was in doubt.
After that, the government decided to limit the operation of Aníbal to the territory of military bases and low speeds. Finally, after many years of trying to improve the pickup truck, the Spanish military decided to abandon this model and began looking for a more reliable replacement. The Ford Ranger, an upgraded version of the Santana Aníbal and the Peugeot Landtrek participated in the competition.
Santana AníbalRecently, the Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the local company Iturri for the production of 4,500 tactical all-terrain vehicles (TAMVS) for a total of €217.66 million euros over 4 years. They will replace both the Santana Aníbal and other Nissan models that are still in service.
The new SUV of the army is the Chinese Changan Kaicene F70 car, sold in some markets under the Peugeot Landtrek brand. The length of this pickup truck is 5.13 m, the weight is 2000 kg, the load capacity is 900 kg, the towing capacity is up to 3500 kg. It is equipped with a 125, 150 or 210 hp turbodiesel engine.
The local contractor will only be responsible for adapting the vehicle for military needs, installing appropriate equipment (armor, communication systems, impenetrable Run-Flat tires, camouflage, fasteners for the winch and cable, etc.).
- it says in the publication El Debate.
Peugeot Landtrek, which are in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, have been shot more than once, being hit by Russian troops.
Peugeot LandtrekAs indicated in El Confidencial Digital, the choice of a Chinese-made car has caused some controversy, especially considering the alternatives presented by Ford and the Santana Motors-Olsan joint venture. However, Iturri's offer was characterized by cost-effectiveness and a five-year warranty, as well as Stellantis' extensive service network in Spain.
- it is noted in the edition.
It is expected that the adoption of new SUVs will allow the Spanish army to improve its logistical and mobile capabilities. It is assumed that these cars will last at least 20 years.
