Scorpion: Signature of the Architecture Contract

[buglerbilly]

(Source: French Ministry of Defence; issued Nov. 25, 2010)

(Issued in French only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)

I hope the French succeed better than FRES or FCS did before them but then again I think their targets are more realistic possibly.........?

PARIS --- Alain Juppé, Minister of Defence and of Veteran Affairs, welcomed the award of the general architecture contract for the Scorpion program.

The contract, valued at approximately EUR 21 million, was awarded by the French armaments agency, Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), to an industry team comprising Thales, Nexter and Sagem (Safran Group).

The contract calls for the final definition of the Scorpion system’s architecture, and to prepare technical choices due to be made in 2012. DGA will select the prime contractors for the program before the end of 2013.

The following phase will see the delivery of the first systems: the first 1,000 Véhicules Blindés Multirôles (VBMR) multirole armoured vehicles which will replace the Véhicule de l’Avant Blindés (VAB) beginning in 2016, and the first 70 Engins Blindés de Reconnaissance et de Combat (EBRC) which will replace, beginning in 2019, the AMX-10RC and Sagaie gun-armed wheeled armoured vehicles. Also planned are the first upgrade of the Leclerc main battle tank, and the introduction of the Scorpion Information and Combat System (SICS).

The total budget for the Scorpion program is valued at approximately 5 billion euros.

The Scorpion program is designed to modernize, in a coherent and optimised manner and through an overall architecture, the French army’s Joint Tactical Groups (GTIA). This includes replacing armoured vehicles dating back to the 1970s, to improve the protection of troops and equipment, and to improve the effectiveness of both combat troops and weapon systems by introducing a network of information and combat systems.

It includes ongoing programs that are currently in production, such as the VBCI wheeled infantry combat vehicle and the Félin dismounted infantryman personal equipment program.

-ends-

[Poor_Canada]

I find the French TO & E so friggen colonial. Half of their forces are designed for African interventions. The VAB and AMX-10RC replacements are gonna be less than 20 tons mark my words, perfect for driving over rickety ivory coast bridges, but blown to kingdom come by a kornet or IED.

[buglerbilly]

I'd agree with that comment for some of the offers..............the Panhard SPHINX in particuar (weighs 17+ tonnes)...........



Whether the other offers end up so light remains to be seen...........and the requirements may change in light of French experiences in Afghanistan.................

[buglerbilly]

The Renault AMC is another offer for the APC/IFV aspect, max weight 23 tonnes, 6.7 tonnes carrying capacity............



The thing to remember is that these are "secondary" wheeled armour with VBCI being the heavy end..........still too light for my liking BUT France does have colonial/African requirements that they feel need to be met.

[Poor_Canada]

I agree on the second line aspect, the VBCI has been offered to Canada for the CCV project and by all accounts is a solid piece of kit, if not a bit undergunned in light of recent developments (CF found 25mm insufficient in central asia). Furthermore, these "heavy" wheeled ICVS like the VBCI, LAV V, or Boxer have quite the mobility improvement over VABS, LAV II/III's and the like.

I would have thought with the reduction in Leclerc numbers and the Canadian/Danish experience in Afghanistan they would have kept the big gun (105, 120mm) of the AMX-10RC for the ERBC. Direct Fire is as important as ever and im not sure if the 40mm CTA will cut it, specially' as France recce doctrine is more cavalry than observation.

[buglerbilly]

Personally I wouldn't underestimate the abilities of the 40mm CTA, its in a different league to most other 20-40mm cannon.............

However, saying all of that, I'd still be keen to see some vehicles equipped with 105/120mm cannon and perhaps some of the newer designs from MECAR, Cockerill and Others would be of use.

There is a line of thought that says Rifled or Smooth-bore, breech-loading 120mm Mortars have still to be effectively adopted for wheeled armour, altho the 120mm AMOS and its single-barrel version are making some moves in the right direction.

I am aware that ammo needs developing further but that is a minor, low risk development to my mind.