VBMR Griffon

The VBMR Griffon (French: Véhicule blindé multi-rôles Griffon, lit. 'Multi-role armored vehicle Griffon') is a French multi-role armored vehicle that will replace the French Army's VAB armored personnel carrier.

VBMR Griffon
VBMR Griffon on display
TypeArmoured personnel carrier
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service2018 -
Used byFrance, Belgium
Production history
ManufacturerNexter, Thales, Arquus
Unit cost€1 million/vehicle
Produced2018 -
VariantsArmored Personnel Carrier / Command Post / Ambulance / Artillery Observer
Specifications
Mass25 tonnes
Width2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height3.0 m (9 ft 10 in)
Crew2 (Driver + Gunner)
Passengers8
Main
armament
12.7mm or 7.62mm machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher in a remote weapons station
Engine298 kW (400 hp)
Suspension6 wheel drive
Operational
range
800 km (500 mi)
Maximum speed 110 km/h (68 mph)

History

The French army has been preparing to replace the VAB since the early 2000s. According to the Army's 2020 Defense White Paper it plans to buy up to 2,122 VBMR vehicles between 2018 and 2025. A consortium of Nexter, Thales, and Renault Trucks Defense is building the vehicles. The same consortium also builds the EBRC Jaguar reconnaissance and combat vehicle for the French Army, which shares 70% of its components with the VBMR Griffon.

On 6 December 2014, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that deliveries will commence in 2018 and a first tranche of 319 Griffons and 20 Jaguars was ordered in April 2017.[1][2] In total the French Army wants to buy 1,722 VBMR 6x6 Griffon and 400 VBMR 4x4 at a later date.

On 22 June 2017, Belgium's cabinet approved a plan to purchase 60 "Jaguar" and 417 “Griffon” vehicles for €1.1 billion. The vehicles will replace the Belgian Army's Piranha IIIC armored personnel carriers and Dingo 2 infantry mobility vehicles. The deal includes spare parts and secure communications equipment and deliveries are planned to commence in 2025.[3]

Design

The vehicle is based on a 6×6 commercial all-terrain truck chassis and will carry up to eight infantry soldiers. The consortium building the "Griffon" and "Jaguar" is contractually obliged to keep the price per Griffon under €1 million. Currently, six versions of the Griffon are planned, with four of these (Armored Personnel Carrier, Command Post, Ambulance, and Artillery Observer) ordered in the first tranche. After 2021 a much lighter 4 × 4 version might be ordered, which will be used as a reconnaissance vehicle.

The vehicles are designed for simple maintenance and logistics. For example, Griffon and Jaguar both use standard commercial truck engines, which have been adapted to use a wider range of fuel. The vehicle has an overpressure system to maintain constant protection to the troop compartment against chemical, biological and radiological threats. For service in hot climates, the Griffon is equipped with air conditioning.

Armament

The Griffon is equipped with a remote weapons station that can be armed with either a 12.7mm or 7.62mm machine gun, or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The addition of two Missile Moyenne Portée (MMP) anti-tank guided missiles is optional. Eight launchers for smoke grenades are fitted to the remote weapon station, which also includes an acoustic sniper localisation system.

Variants
  • VBMR-L Serval - Light 4-wheel variant of the VBMR, selected in November 2017 to replace the Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé from 2022.[4] The contract for the French Army was awarded in February 2018, which included funding for 489 orders by 2025, which reach 978 vehicles by 2030.[5][6]

Operators
  •  Belgium - Ordered 417 vehicles in June 2017[3]
  •  France - First order for 319 vehicles signed in April 2017 for a total of 1872 units.[7]

References
  1. "Le ministre de la Défense dévoile le GRIFFON et le JAGUAR". French Defense Ministry. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  2. "Scorpion : Commande des premiers véhicules blindés Griffon et Jaguar". French Defense Ministry. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  3. Bingham, Jeremy (26 June 2017). "Belgium to procure French Scorpion vehicles". IHS Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  4. Tran, Pierre (26 November 2017). "In a blow to RTD, France selects Nexter for light multirole vehicle". Defense News. Paris. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  5. Bingham, James (13 February 2018). "DGA awards VBMR-L contract". IHS Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  6. Tran, Pierre (12 February 2018). "French deal with Nexter, Texelis to provide 'operational superiority'". Defense News. Paris. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  7. "Griffon Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (VBMR)". Army Technology. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.

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