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Santa Bárbara Gives One-Month Deadline Before Supreme Court Appeal on Artillery Contracts

The announcement comes as the Supreme Court weighs a precautionary freeze of €3 billion in zero‑interest state loans tied to €7.2 billion in artillery awards to an Indra–Escribano consortium.

Overview

  • Santa Bárbara says it will take the December adjudication to the Supreme Court if no agreement is reached within a month, escalating an ongoing legal fight over Spain’s new self‑propelled artillery programs.
  • The Supreme Court’s contentious‑administrative chamber has admitted a bid to suspend the Industry Ministry’s loans, with a two‑week period for allegations and a decision on precautionary measures expected within a month.
  • The company argues the Indra–Escribano group lacks the current capacity to execute the contracts, asserting it already develops these systems in Spain and was not invited to participate in the process.
  • Executives cite demonstrations of the tracked Némesis and wheeled Piranha 10x10 systems at FEINDEF 2025 with army participation as evidence of readiness and say they have sought dialogue, including proposals to Indra.
  • Santa Bárbara warns that exclusion from major long‑term programs would hurt its Trubia workforce and a network of about 1,100 mostly Spanish suppliers, even as it maintains ongoing communication with the Defence Ministry.