Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms Space By Flag By Year By Tag

GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas Hunter

2026 INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLE Counter-UAS MODERN

History

The Hunter is a tracked infantry fighting vehicle developed by General Dynamics European Land Systems Santa Bárbara Sistemas for Latvia. It is based on the ASCOD platform and is configured for the requirements of the Latvian National Armed Forces.

Latvia ordered 84 Hunter vehicles in two batches of 42. The program combines production in Spain with final assembly, component integration, maintenance, and industrial participation in Latvia.

In August 2026, Latvia also demonstrated active and passive counter-drone systems on the Hunter at Ādaži military base. The activity was intended to evaluate methods of protecting mechanized forces against unmanned aerial threats before wider vehicle deliveries and service entry.

Selection and procurement

Latvia began the infantry fighting vehicle procurement process in early 2023. Functional trials of competing vehicles were conducted in autumn 2023. The Latvian National Armed Forces subsequently evaluated operational requirements, technical characteristics, equipment, life-cycle costs, delivery schedules, and opportunities for local industrial participation before selecting the ASCOD platform.

Latvia signed the contract for the first 42 vehicles with GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas on January 30, 2025. The contract was valued at €387 million. In June 2025, the Latvian government approved the procurement of another 42 vehicles at the same stated price, increasing the total order to 84.

The Hunter name, also rendered as Mednieks in Latvian, was selected by soldiers of Latvia's Mechanized Infantry Brigade. The vehicles are intended primarily for that formation and for mechanized maneuver operations.

Production and local assembly

Production and industrial cooperation involve GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas and Defence Partnership Latvia. GDELS supplies the vehicle rolling stock, while final assembly, component integration, maintenance, and related work are carried out at the Patria armored vehicle production facility in Valmiera. The plant opened in May 2024.

According to The Defense Post, the initial Hunter entered final assembly at the Valmiera plant in August 2026, marking the start of local final assembly. The report stated that the industrial arrangement was intended to fulfill about 30 percent of the program's domestic participation requirement.

Earlier reporting in February 2026 stated that the first vehicles were expected to arrive in Latvia during spring 2026 and enter service by autumn. Later August reporting described the first Hunter as having been delivered to Latvia, while another report stated that initial deliveries to the National Armed Forces were scheduled for October 2026. These reports indicate that production, transfer, local assembly, and formal military delivery were occurring as separate program milestones. Militarnyi described the earlier delivery schedule, while Defence Blog reported the first vehicle's arrival and the transfer of production know-how.

Design

The Hunter is a tracked infantry fighting vehicle derived from the ASCOD platform and adapted to Latvian requirements. It has a crew of three and can transport six fully equipped infantry soldiers.

The Latvian configuration is specified with an automatic cannon, anti-tank guided missiles, a machine gun, and additional technologies intended to improve battlefield situational awareness. The available sources do not identify the exact weapon calibers or missile type.

Protection is reported as STANAG 4569 Level 4 ballistic protection, including resistance against 14.5 mm armor-piercing ammunition. Mine protection is reported at STANAG 4569 Level 4a/4b, corresponding in the cited reporting to protection against a 10 kg explosive detonation.

Counter-drone integration

On August 27, 2026, the Latvian Ministry of Defence held a demonstration at Ādaži military base involving counter-drone equipment mounted on the Hunter. The systems were supplied by GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas.

The demonstration included active counter-drone systems intended to engage unmanned aerial threats and passive systems intended to detect threats and warn the crew. Latvian ground-based unmanned systems intended to operate alongside the vehicle were also demonstrated. The available information does not establish that any particular counter-drone package had been selected as the standard production configuration.

Defence Blog reported that the demonstration was conducted shortly before planned initial deliveries to the Latvian National Armed Forces in October 2026.

Program status

By August 2026, Latvia's Hunter program had progressed from procurement and overseas manufacturing into delivery and local final assembly. Latvia had ordered 84 vehicles, with deliveries scheduled to continue through 2027.

The vehicles are intended for the Latvian Land Forces Mechanized Infantry Brigade. The program also includes technology and know-how transfer to Latvian industry, local assembly, and long-term maintenance capabilities.