Belgium Presents Griffon 6×6 Armored Vehicle as Army Begins Operational Training.

Belgium’s Land Component presented its new Griffon wheeled armored vehicle at the BEDEX 2026 defense exhibition in Brussels as part of the Franco-Belgian CaMo cooperation program. The platform strengthens the modernization of Belgium’s motorized brigade by improving troop protection, battlefield mobility, and integration into a networked combat system shared with France.

At the BEDEX 2026 defense exhibition in Brussels, the Belgian Army unveils its new Griffon wheeled armored vehicle, a troop transport designed to enhance the operational capabilities of the Land Component’s motorized brigade. The vehicle is being introduced under the Franco-Belgian CaMo (Capacité Motorisée) cooperation program, which aligns Belgian land forces with French operational standards and equipment. Developed by the industrial consortium KNDS, Arquus, and Thales, the Griffon is built to carry an infantry combat group while offering improved ballistic protection, high tactical mobility, and integration into a digitally networked battlefield system that enables real- time coordination between vehicles and command units.
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In Belgium, the Griffon is acquired through the CaMo program launched in 2018 between Belgium and France to align the capabilities of the Belgian motorized brigade with those of the French Army and the SCORPION program (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Griffon is an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), a type of armored vehicle designed to transport and protect an infantry section on the battlefield. Its design aims to meet the operational requirements of modern land forces, particularly in terms of tactical mobility and connectivity between units. The platform can be configured in multiple variants to perform different missions. The main configuration is intended for transporting an infantry squad, while the vehicle family also includes several specialized versions.

The vehicle can be produced in eleven different variants covering several operational functions. Some configurations serve as command-post vehicles used for tactical coordination of units. Others are designed for artillery observation, enabling crews to identify targets and transmit coordinates to fire-support units. Additional versions are dedicated to medical evacuation missions.

The Griffon is designed to accommodate a crew of two personnel, typically the driver and vehicle commander, along with up to eight soldiers transported in the rear compartment. This arrangement allows the vehicle to carry a full infantry combat group in a protected platform capable of accompanying mechanized maneuver units. The vehicle reaches a maximum road speed of approximately 90 kilometers per hour, enabling it to move alongside rapidly maneuvering land forces.

The vehicle has a maximum combat weight of approximately 24.5 tonnes. Its propulsion system is based on an engine producing around 400 horsepower, or roughly 295 kilowatts. This power output maintains vehicle mobility despite the vehicle’s protection level and the weight of onboard systems. The operational range reaches approximately 800 kilometers, allowing extended movements over long distances without immediate refueling. The vehicle measures about 8 meters in length, 3.3 meters in width, and 3.7 meters in height.

On March 9, 2026, Belgian defense officials and military personnel presented the first Griffon 6x6 armored vehicle during a press demonstration held at the Infantry School in Arlon, shortly before its official entry into service with the Belgian Army.

In Belgium, the Griffon is acquired through the CaMo program launched in 2018 between Belgium and France to align the capabilities of the Belgian motorized brigade with those of the French Army and the SCORPION program. This partnership aims to improve interoperability between French and Belgian forces, particularly during joint operations. The program includes the acquisition of several hundred next-generation armored vehicles.

Belgium plans to acquire 382 Griffon vehicles, along with 24 vehicles in the mortar-equipped MEPAC configuration. An additional agreement approved in 2025 provides for the purchase of 92 additional vehicles to further reinforce the capabilities of the motorized brigade. These vehicles are intended to gradually replace several older armored platforms previously used by the Belgian land component.

The first Griffon intended for the Belgian Army is unveiled in 2025 at the industrial facility in Staden, located in West Flanders, where part of the industrial activities related to the program is established. This facility supports industrial integration and maintenance activities associated with the CaMo program. Initial deliveries enable the launch of training programs for crews and units that will operate the new vehicles.

The presence of the Griffon on the Belgian Army stand during BEDEX 2026 reflects the evolution of land forces toward more modular and digitally connected wheeled armored platforms. These vehicles are designed to operate in environments where mobility, protection, and the integration of command systems play an increasing role in the conduct of military operations.

On March 9, 2026, Belgian defense officials and military personnel presented the first Griffon 6x6 armored vehicle during a press demonstration held at the Infantry School in Arlon, shortly before its official entry into service with the Belgian Army. The demonstration provided an early view of the platform that is expected to equip frontline units in the coming months, while crews began training and familiarization activities. The introduction of the Griffon into Belgian service marked a step in the implementation of the CaMo program, which seeks to align Belgian land capabilities with the SCORPION combat system used by the French Army, a family of digitally networked vehicles and supporting equipment developed for modern land operations.