Retour aux nouvelles

11 juin 2018 | International, Terrestre

France to double military vehicle order, asking for multiple variants

By:

VERSAILLES, France ― France is to double its order for the Light VBMR reconnaissance vehicle, a key element in the French Army's €10 billion (U.S. $12 billion) Scorpion modernization program.

An additional 420 Light VBMR units are to be ordered, taking the total to 978, according to Erwan, the director of the Scorpion modernization program at Direction Générale de l'Armement procurement office. Erwan, whose last name is not used for security reasons, spoke to the press May 16.

A first delivery of the Light VBMR is due in 2022, with 489 shipped by 2025.

In addition to the highly equipped 489, there will be a further 200 units ordered, with the latter more lightly equipped units, according to the annex of the draft multiyear military budget law for 2019-2025.

That raises the total of Light VBMRs to 689 delivered by 2025.

After 2025 and out to 2032, there will be a further 978 ordered for Scorpion, and 1,060 ordered outside of the program, with a total of 2,038 for that period.

A first delivery of an armored personnel carrier version of Light VBMR is due in 2021, a reconnaissance model in 2022 and a communications variant in 2023.

A wide spectrum of missions will be covered, as there will be 16 versions of the vehicle, with 10 of the APC, two for recon and four for comms.

Nexter will design, build and service the vehicles, while Texelis will supply the chassis and driveline.

Nexter's factory at Roanne, central France, will build the Light VBMR, adding to the workload generated by orders for the Griffon troop carrier and the Jaguar combat and reconnaissance vehicle.

The Light VBMR weighs 15-17 tons, can reach a speed of 100 kph and has a range of 600 kilometers. That weight compares to the French Army's initial requirement for a 10-ton vehicle, before industry called that unrealistic.

One of the vehicles can be airlifted on a C-130, while two can fit on the A400M transport aircraft. Regarding the latter, the vehicles can be fully equipped for combat and still be successfully loaded.

The vehicle is armed with a remote controlled 7.62mm machine gun, a minigun at the rear and self-protection with a Galix smoke dispenser.

The vehicle can carry 10 people ― eight troops, a driver and a gunner.

France is also to order an upgrade for 200 Leclerc main battle tanks, with a first delivery of a modernized tank in 2021, Erwan said. Sensors and the Bull SICS battle management system, or Scorpion Information Communication System, will bring the tank into the Scorpion's so-called collaborative combat concept, which seeks to heighten teamwork on the ground and with commanders at the regimental level.

An order for the Griffon multipurpose troop carrier is to be raised to ”a target“ of 1,872, up 150 units from a previous total, Erwan said. A first delivery is due by the end of the year, with certification in the second quarter of 2019. Some 936 units are due by 2025.

Contracts for those increased orders are expected to be signed later this year after the French Parliament formally adopts the draft military budget law, expected in July.

That boost in orders follows the Army's call for a speedy introduction of the new armored vehicles, to replace an aging fleet of VAB troop carriers. There is a 2,700-strong fleet of VABs, which are some 40 years old.

The briefing by Erwan was on a press trip organized by Gicat, the French trade association for makers of land weapons, ahead of the Eurosatory trade show, which runs June 11-15.

https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/eurosatory/2018/06/08/france-to-double-military-vehicle-order-asking-for-multiple-variants/

Sur le même sujet

  • Switzerland awards contract to General Dynamics European Land Systems- Mowag to deliver 100 EAGLE 6x6 reconnaissance vehicles

    6 décembre 2019 | International, Terrestre

    Switzerland awards contract to General Dynamics European Land Systems- Mowag to deliver 100 EAGLE 6x6 reconnaissance vehicles

    December 5, 2019 - General Dynamics European Land Systems-Mowag announced today that it signed a contract with armasuisse on November 18th, 2019, for the delivery of 100 protected EAGLE 6x6 reconnaissance vehicles for the Swiss Army. The EAGLE 6x6 was selected after an international competition conducted by armasuisse, the Swiss federal office for defence procurement. This first order of the EAGLE 6x6 is a milestone for the latest development of the EAGLE vehicle family. The 100 EAGLE 6x6 vehicles will be the vehicle platform of the tactical reconnaissance system "TASYS." TASYS will be used to gather intelligence for the Swiss Armed Forces including support of civil authorities. It consists of an EAGLE V 6x6 carrier vehicle, a multi-sensor system mounted on a telescopic mast, and a data processing system. For self-protection, the highly-mobile EAGLE V 6x6 TASYS is armoured and equipped with a remotely controlled weapon station. The vehicle offers sufficient payload reserves to allow for future improvements, such as the integration of additional sensors. The EAGLE V 6x6 TASYS starts production in 2020 and will be fielded between 2023 and 2025. Besides the Swiss Army the EAGLE V 4x4 is also extensively used by both Denmark and Germany, where it is very popular with the troops. The further development of the EAGLE V 4x4 into the EAGLE V 6x6 was inspired by operational experience and the need for a vehicle with increased useful volume, more payload, very compact exterior dimensions, as well as constant high mobility and maximized protection. "We are very proud that the Swiss Army is the first customer to introduce the EAGLE V 6x6," says Oliver Dürr, Vice President Wheeled Vehicles and Managing Director of General Dynamics European Land Systems-Mowag. Facts about the EAGLE V The EAGLE V is available in 4x4 and 6x6 versions and is one of the most modern protected wheeled vehicles in its class. The EAGLE has already proven its efficiency and reliability in various military missions. Due to its power reserves, the EAGLE offers an ideal platform to meet both current and future requirements. In addition to its excellent protection against mines and improvised explosive devices, the EAGLE V 6x6 offers a high payload and a large transport volume, within very compact dimensions. With its unique axle and drive system, the EAGLE V delivers off-road mobility and on-road driving safety. View source version on General Dynamics European Land Systems-Mowag : https://www.gdels.com/pr.php?news=137

  • MBDA : forte résilience en 2020

    1 avril 2021 | International, Aérospatial

    MBDA : forte résilience en 2020

    DÉFENSE MBDA : forte résilience en 2020 MBDA a fait preuve d'une forte résilience en 2020. Le chiffre d'affaires a atteint 3,6 milliards d'euros, avec une répartition à 50/50 entre les clients nationaux et export. Les prises de commandes ont atteint 3,3 milliards d'euros, le carnet de commandes s'établissant désormais à 16,6 milliards d'euros. Éric Béranger, PDG de MBDA, a déclaré : « Ces résultats soutiennent nos perspectives de croissance. MBDA est au cœur de la souveraineté de nos nations domestiques et de leurs alliés, et nous continuerons de leur proposer des solutions au meilleur niveau mondial, indispensables à la défense de leur sécurité nationale et à la préservation de leur autonomie stratégique ». Parmi les principales nouvelles commandes remportées en 2020, figurent le contrat d'amélioration des capacités du missile Brimstone 3 et la commande de production du missile Spear pour la Royal Air Force, la rénovation mi-vie de l'Aster pour la France ainsi que le lancement du développement du nouveau missile de combat MHT pour l'hélicoptère Tigre, le contrat pour le nouveau missile anti-navire Teseo MK2/E pour l'Italie et le contrat avec Rheinmetall portant sur un nouveau démonstrateur d'effecteur laser à haute énergie pour la marine allemande. Les principales commandes à l'exportation comprennent un package armement naval pour un client étranger, ainsi que pour le Sénégal. La France et l'Italie viennent de notifier à MBDA la conception de la nouvelle génération du SAMP/T, le seul système de défense antimissile balistique réalisé en Europe. Autre échéance importante, le lancement attendu cet été du programme de missiles anti-navire et de croisière, baptisés FMAN/FMC, destinés à remplacer les missiles anti-navires Exocet (France) et Harpoon (Grande-Bretagne) et de croisière Scalp/Storm Shadow. Enfin, MBDA est en charge avec Airbus de concevoir les effecteurs (drones, missiles, objets volants) du Système aérien de combat du futur (SCAF). Ensemble de la presse du 1er avril

  • Air Force’s JSTARS flies last intel mission after 3 decades in service

    2 octobre 2023 | International, Aérospatial

    Air Force’s JSTARS flies last intel mission after 3 decades in service

    The jets have amassed more than 141,000 hours in combat since Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

Toutes les nouvelles