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Belgium Prepares for Transformation with New French Griffon Armored Vehicles.
The Libération Battalion – 5th of the Line (Bvr/5 Li) from Bourg-Léopold, Belgium, has just returned from La Courtine in France, where its troops became familiar with the Griffon armored vehicle and its associated weapons and communication systems. This practical exercise marks an important step in the Battalion’s modernization, which is part of the CaMo (Capacité Motorisée) partnership between Belgium and France.
Belgium recently completed a hands-on exercise at La Courtine in France, where soldiers trained on the Griffon armored vehicle. (Picture source: Belgian MoD)
5th of the Line (Bvr/5 Li) from Bourg-Léopold in Belgium recently completed a hands-on exercise at La Courtine in France, where soldiers trained on the Griffon armored vehicle and its integrated weapons and communications systems. This marks a step in the unit’s modernization under the Belgian-French CaMo (Capacité Motorisée) partnership.
Designed to strengthen the Belgian Motorized Brigade, the CaMo plan draws on French experience to increase operational capabilities and interoperability. Since 2022, France’s 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) has been using the Griffon and its related technologies, making it an ideal model to guide Belgium’s transition. As the first Belgian unit to receive this new equipment, Bvr/5 Li had the opportunity to discover it, test it, and fully integrate it in a real-world setting.
According to Colonel Reyniers, Commanding Officer of Bvr/5 Li, adopting the Griffon and its associated systems helps improve operational availability by assigning each vehicle to a specific driver and section. This approach streamlines equipment management and troop deployment. Furthermore, the unit’s firepower has been increased by reintroducing the 81 mm mortar in the support platoon and creating an anti-tank platoon at battalion level. This modernization also aligns with the French “Scorpion” program, which aims to integrate new technologies over time, such as adaptive camouflage and more advanced weapon systems.
During their stay in La Courtine, Belgian soldiers could engage directly with their French counterparts and benefit from concrete feedback on the operational use of these vehicles and communication systems. This exchange allowed Bvr/5 Li to better anticipate its own training and future use of the equipment. Learning from the experiences of the 2e REI, both successes and challenges helps ensure a smoother transition to this new technological environment.
This visit perfectly illustrates the philosophy of the CaMo plan, centered on innovation, cooperation, and interoperability. By adopting equipment and processes already proven in France, the Belgian Army aims not only to enhance its operational efficiency but also to strengthen its partnership with a key ally, in order to meet current and future challenges.