News
ENGINEERING TO SUCCEED:
Piedrafita Expands UK Presence to Advance Proven Defence Technologies
Piedrafita is a premier engineering firm renowned for its cutting-edge mobility and power solutions tailored for military vehicles operating in the most challenging environments worldwide.
With nearly forty years of specialized expertise, the company has established itself as a trusted technological ally in the defence sector. Its operations are strategically structured into three synergistic divisions: Piedrafita Systems, Prognostics, and DefPower.
INNOVATION IN MOBILITY SOLUTIONS FOR ARMOURED VEHICLES IN HARSH CONDITIONS
Piedrafita Systems stands at the forefront of rotary damper innovation, engineering and manufacturing advanced solutions that redefine mobility for heavy land platforms. Its patented designs—lightweight, compact, and highly efficient—deliver superior energy dissipation, enhancing vehicle performance while streamlining integration for both next-generation systems and retrofitted legacy platforms.
The Hydropneumatic Rotary Suspension System (SRB) for Armoured Vehicles is the outcome of a strategic collaboration among leading European defence companies, with Piedrafita serving as the project’s principal coordinator. This initiative is part of the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP 2020) and the European Defence Fund (EDF 2023), underscoring its significance within the EU’s broader vision for technological sovereignty and military innovation. The Hydropneumatic Linear Suspension columns represent a fully integrated design solution engineered to enhance the mobility of a wide spectrum of vehicle platforms. Their modular architecture and seamless integration capabilities make them ideally suited for both cutting-edge vehicle development and the modernization of existing legacy systems.
In addition to advanced hydropneumatic suspension systems, both rotary and linear, Piedrafita offers other specific solutions, such as track tensioners, which directly influence the mobility of both metal and rubber track vehicles, their fuel consumption, comfort, crew safety and service life.
The future of digital suspension and predictive maintenance
Piedrafita has fully embraced digital transformation through the development of its Digital Suspension Controller (DSC)—an advanced system that delivers real-time monitoring and diagnostics for suspension and drivetrain components. By providing actionable insights into terrain conditions, operational patterns, and mechanical integrity, the DSC empowers predictive, data-driven maintenance strategies that reduce unplanned downtime and enhance overall operational readiness.
SMART POWER MANAGEMENT WITH SOLID-STATE MILPDUS
As military platforms transition toward electrification, the need for resilient and intelligent power distribution systems becomes increasingly critical. Piedrafita DefPower meets this demand with its advanced line of MILPDUs (Militarised Power Distribution Units). These solid-state systems replace conventional relay and fuse boxes, offering programmable logic, a compact footprint, and full compliance with stringent MIL-STD and Def Stan specifications—ensuring reliability and adaptability in the most demanding operational environments.
Features include:
- Compatibility with 12 V, 24 V, and 48 V systems
- CAN bus integration
- Support for analogue and digital inputs
- Integrated transient protection
- Hardware standardisation across variants
- Ideal for legacy fleet upgrades
INTELLIGENT DATA ACQUISITION FOR MISSION-CRITICAL SYSTEMS
Piedrafita Prognostics offers a holistic approach to data acquisition and subsystem digitalisation, empowering advanced diagnostics and operational intelligence. Its Smart Logger product family supports both NGVA-compliant and standalone platforms, enabling in-depth system analysis across powertrains, turrets, and suspension systems. Complementing this, the SICCOM component traceability platform leverages QR codes, barcodes, RFID, and NFC technologies—enhanced by AI-driven recognition—to provide secure, contactless access to data and comprehensive lifecycle tracking.
STRENGTHENING PRESENCE IN THE UK
Piedrafita’s technologies are already integrated into key platforms of the UK Ministry of Defence, including the AJAX programme. To better support the growing needs of its British partners, the company is establishing a dedicated in-service support workshop in the United Kingdom. This new facility will offer localised assistance, spare parts provisioning, and streamlined distribution—reinforcing Piedrafita’s long-term commitment to the sustainment and success of British defence initiatives.
