Engineering:VBMR Griffon

Short description: French armoured personnel carrier

VBMR Griffon
VBMR Griffon on Bastille Day Parade (July 14, 2021)
Type	Armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	2019 - present (Griffon) 2022 - present (Serval)
Used by	France Belgium
Production history
Manufacturer	Nexter Arquus Thales
Unit cost	€1.5 million (FY2017)
Produced	2018 - present
Variants	Armored Personnel Carrier / Command Post / Ambulance / Artillery Observer
Specifications
Mass	25 tonnes
Length	7.58 m (24 ft 10 in)
Width	2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height	3.0 m (9 ft 10 in)
Crew	2 (Driver + Gunner)
Passengers	8
Main armament	12.7mm or 7.62mm machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher in a remote weapons station
Engine	298 kW (400 hp)
Suspension	6 wheel drive
Operational range	800 km (500 mi)
Speed	110 km/h (68 mph)

The Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle Griffon (English: Multirole Armoured Vehicle Griffon) or VBMR Griffon is a French multi-purpose armoured personnel carrier developed and manufactured by Nexter in cooperation with Arquus and Thales. Entering operational service in 2019, it will, alongside the four-wheeled VBMR-L Serval variant, succeed the Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (VAB).

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 Arquus (formerly named 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. A second tranche for 271 Griffons and 42 Jaguars was ordered on 24 September 2020. In total the French Army plans to buy 1,872 Griffons and 300 Jaguars.

On 26 October 2018, Belgium's cabinet formalized the plan to purchase 60 "Jaguar" and 382 “Griffon” vehicles for €1.5 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.

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.

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 Akeron MP 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

Models and versions of the VBMR Griffon in service with the French Army equipment in February 2023:

3 models:

VTT: Troop Transport Vehicle. Several versions: FELIN: Infantry Transport. MMP: Medium-Range Missile Launcher AKERON MP on board. VPM 81: 81 mm Mortar Carrier Mo 81 LLR on board. VTM 120: 120 mm Mortar Tractor Vehicle towed 120MM RT. VOA: Artillery Observation Vehicle. EPC: Command Post Vehicle. SATCP: Short-Range Air Defense Missile Mistral on board. Refueling. SAN: Health, for medical evacuation. MEPAC: Mortar Embarked for Contact Support, Griffon equipped with a 120 mm 2R2M mortar. Recon NRBC: Nuclear, Radiological, Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance. Troop Transport Vehicles (VTT) The troop transport vehicle version is the main version of the Griffon. Declined in four sub-versions, it will be the most present within the Army:

FELIN version: The Infantryman with integrated equipment and connections (FELIN) sub-version is directly dedicated to infantry combat, with the possibility of carrying fully equipped fighters with their FELIN systems. Sniper shooter section version; MMP version: The Medium-Range Missile (MMP) sub-version is equipped with several medium-range missiles for anti-tank warfare; Refueling version. Command Post (PC) or (EPC) and Artillery Observation Vehicle (VOA) The GRIFFON EPC is a version intended for command, including communication systems, servers, and routers. This version of the Griffon can also be designated as an Artillery Observation Vehicle (VOA) due to its increased equipment in this field. It is notably equipped with a laser designation system and a CONTACT radio integrated into the SCORPION information system, which allows locating firing points via the ANTARES optronic system. A telescopic mast placed at the rear of the vehicle increases the range of its communications. Its GO12 radar, operating at 360° and up to 25 km, is capable of detecting, identifying, and tracking land, maritime, or aerial vehicles, as well as infantry. The vehicle has a remotely operated T2 turret armed with a 7.62 mm caliber on the roof. It can accommodate a driver and a gunner at the front, and five soldiers/operators at the rear of the vehicle.

A total delivery of 333 EPC is planned, half of which will be delivered in 2025.

Health The Griffon SAN intended for the army health service (SSA) was qualified by the DGA in June 2022. It improves the performance of medical missions compared to the currently used VAB, with greater personnel safety due to its increased armor providing increased resistance to ballistic threats, mines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a more functional workspace with a larger internal space, and better comfort through the overall technical improvement of the vehicle.

From 2023, the SSA should benefit from the delivery of 196 GRIFFON SAN.

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NRBC The VBMR NRBC will have the ability to operate and retrieve information in an environment that has been damaged by the effects of a nuclear, radiological, biological, or chemical event.

Mortar Embarked for Contact Support (MEPAC)

VBMR Griffon MEPAC model. The rear compartment of the Griffon MEPAC version is designed to be equipped with a semi-automatic mortar (10 rounds per minute), the 2R2M, 120 mm with a range of 15 km with metric precision, and also with a shell storage space. This version is also equipped with a remotely operated turret with a 12.7 mm machine gun. Its crew will consist of four fighters: the driver, the turret operator, and the two mortar operators.

A total delivery of 54 MEPAC is planned by 2027, with half to be delivered by the end of 2025.

VBMR-L Serval

VBMR-L Serval, May 2022

Complementing the heavier Griffon armoured vehicle, the Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle Léger Serval (English: "Lightweight Multirole Armored Vehicle Serval") or VBMR-L Serval is also intended as a replacement for the VAB. 4-wheeled and designed to operate in areas of contact with the enemy, it is particularly maneuverable and will primarily equip infantry units of light brigades such as the 11th Airborne Brigade and the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade. The contract for the French Army was awarded in February 2018 to Nexter and Texelis, which included funding for 489 units by 2025, reaching 978 vehicles by 2030.

Furthermore, 1060 additional Serval VLTP P segment haut (multipurpose light tactical vehicles) will also be purchased by 2033.

Variants

VBMR Griffon

• VTT: Armoured personnel carrier
• EPC/VOA: Armoured command and artillery observation vehicle
• MEPAC: Armoured mortar carrier
• Ambulance/Santé: Armoured medical evacuation vehicle
• Génie: Armoured combat engineering vehicle
• NRBC: Armoured CBRN defense vehicle

VBMR-L Serval

• VPB: Armoured personnel carrier
• SA2R: Armoured ISTAR vehicle
• NCT: Armoured communications vehicle

Texelis Celeris

Texelis designed the Serval drive train for Nexter, and detains the rights on the design. Texelis is commercialising it as a drive-train kit.

Operators

VBMR Griffon

• Belgium - Ordered 382 units of the VBMR Griffon in October 2018.
• France - Planned the purchase of 1872 units of the VBMR Griffon and 978 units of the VBMR-L Serval by 2030. An additional 1060 Serval VLTP P segment haut vehicles to be purchased by 2033.

VBMR Griffon MEPAC

• Belgium - Ordered at least 24 MEPACS to replace the 120mm mortar.

VBMR-L Serval

• France - Planned the purchase 978 units of the VBMR-L Serval by 2030 and an additional 1060 Serval VLTP P segment haut vehicles to be purchased by 2033.

Texelis Celeris

• Unknown - Order for 12 drive trains with an option for 30 additional ones.

External links

Metravib Defence