Discover new military power of French army including new combat vehicles and tank

Discover the French army's new military power, including the latest generation of combat vehicles from the Scorpion Program including the Griffon 6x6 multirole armored vehicle, Jaguar 6x6 reconnaissance and armored vehicles, Serval 4x4 multirole armored vehicle, and the Leclerc XLR tank.
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The new military power of the French army includes Griffon, Serval, Jaguar armored vehicles, and Leclerc XLR tank. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Griffon is a new generation of 6x6 armored vehicles that will replace the family of VAB 4x4 armored vehicles in service with the French army since 1976. The Griffon will be also delivered to the French army in ambulance, command post, artillery observation, engineer, mortar carrier, and recovery variants.

The Scorpion program of the French army includes the delivery of 1,722 Griffon to the French Army which could be started in 2018. A total of 780 vehicles are expected to be delivered by 2025.

The Griffon in APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) configuration is able to carry 11 soldiers including the driver, commander, gunner, and 8 infantrymen. It has a weight of around 24,500 kg. and has been designed to offer a high level of off-road performance and a high level of ballistic protection through its modular armor system (up to NATO STANAG 4569 Level 4) that provides ballistic protection against firing of small arms 14.5×114mm AP / B32 at 200 meters with 911 m/s and shell splinters at 30 m of the vehicle and mine protection 10 kg of mine explosion under the center of the hull and the wheels.

The APC Griffon is fitted with a remotely-operated weapon station that can be armed with a 7.62mm or 12.7mm heavy machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher.

French army Griffon 6x6 armored vehicle. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Jaguar is a 6x6 Reconnaissance and Combat Armoured Vehicle that was designed to replace the AMX-10RC, the ERC-90, and the VAB HOT anti-tank vehicles currently in service with the French army. The French army has planned to acquire 248 Jaguar and a total of 110 vehicles are expected to be delivered by 2025.

The Jaguar EBRC is fitted with a two-man turret 40 CTAS armed with one 40mm CTC cannon with Ammunition Handling System (AHS). The 40mm cannon will have a maximum range of 1,500 m. . The right side of the turret is fitted with two launchers for the MMP (Missile Moyenne Portée - Medium Range Missile) missile designed by the French Company MBDA. In road position, the missiles are stored inside the armor of the turret and are elevated to an angle of about 45º to perform fire operations. The MMP missile is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance which has a maximum range of 4,000m.

The Jaguar EBRC is based on 6x6 all-terrain vehicle chassis with the turret mounted at the center of the hull. We can suppose that the hull of the Jaguar EBRC will have the same level of protection (NATO STANAG 4569 Level 4) as the Griffon VBMR which is also included in the EBMR Scorpion program of the French army. It has a crew of three.

French army Jaguar 6x6 reconnaissance and combat armored vehicle. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Serval is the latest member of the Scorpion program family, it is a 4x4 multirole armored vehicle. The French army plans to acquire more than 2,035 vehicles by 2030. It is planned that 689 vehicles will be delivered by 2025.

The Serval has been designed on a modular architecture concept offering the possibility to deliver the vehicle in different configurations and able to conduct different types of missions. It will have a combat weight of 15 to 17 tons.

The Serval as the Griffon offers a high level of protection against ballistic and mine threats. It has a crew of two including a driver and a commander and the rear part of the hull is able to accommodate up to 8 infantrymen equipped with the Felin future soldier system.

The roof of the Serval is equipped with a remotely operated weapon station which can be armed with a 7.62mm, a 12.7mm, or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The vehicle is also equipped with the Combat Information System (SICS), which supports collective combat capabilities by ensuring communication between all the platforms and weapons systems of the Scorpion program vehicles.

Serval 4x4 armored vehicle. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Leclerc XLR is an enhanced version of the standard Lecler offering more mobility, firepower, and protection. The tank XLR keeps the same armament as the standard Leclerc tank which consists of a Giat 120 mm 52 caliber smoothbore gun designated the CN 120-26. The roof of the turret is now equipped with a remotely operated weapon station armed with one 7.62mm machine gun.

The Leclerc XLR tank has a similar design as the previous version with a crew of three including a driver, commander, and gunner but it has a new armor package that includes additional modular armor on the hull and the turret. The front part of the hull side is protected by thick passive armor, while the rear part is fitted with wire cage armor to protect the engine compartment against attacks of RPGs (Rocket-Propelled Grenade). The rear part of the hull is also fitted with wire cage armor.

The Leclerc XLR will use the same powerpack as the standard Leclerc tank which consists of a SACM V8X-1500 Hyperbar diesel engine developing 1,500 hp coupled to a SESM ESM 500 fully automatic transmission with five forward and two reverse gears and hydrostatic transmission. It can run at a maximum road speed of 72 km/h, an off-road speed of 50 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 615 km.

Nexter Leclerc XLR MBT main Battle Tank. (Picture source Army Recognition)