Belgium receives its first French Griffon armored vehicle for local assembly under the CaMo program.

As reported by French Aid to Ukraine on February 12, 2025, Belgium has received its first Griffon armored vehicle under the CaMo (Capacité Motorisée) program, as confirmed by Alexandre Dupuy, Director of System Activities at KNDS France, during his hearing before the French National Assembly’s Defense Commission on the same day. He stated, "The first Griffon, the one that is to be assembled in Belgium, has been in Belgium since mid-December. It is now a reality."
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The 382 Griffon vehicles ordered under the CaMo contract will be assembled, painted, tested, and finalized in a brand-new facility in Belgium before being delivered to the Belgian Land Component. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

In April 2022, KNDS France (formerly Nexter) selected MOL CY, a Belgian company specializing in transport equipment and metal construction, to handle Griffon assembly in Belgium, based on its capacity to expand into armored vehicle assembly. The final assembly of the Griffon will take place at a newly inaugurated assembly site in Staden, Belgium, and includes a technology transfer, with Belgian personnel receiving training at KNDS France's Roanne facility, while French experts will provide initial support at the Staden site. The total investment in the new facility is approximately €7 million, supporting Belgium’s defense production capabilities. Additionally, discussions are ongoing regarding Luxembourg's potential participation in the CaMo framework, which could lead to further production activities.

The CaMo program, which now also interests Ireland, is a binational agreement between France and Belgium aimed at standardizing military mobility and operational interoperability. Established in 2019, the program includes the acquisition of almost 400 Griffon multirole armored vehicles, 60 Jaguar reconnaissance and combat vehicles, and nine next-generation Caesar 155mm self-propelled howitzers. The agreement integrates joint training exercises such as Celtic Uprise and establishes a unified operational structure. The program incorporates the Scorpion Combat Information System (SICS) to facilitate real-time data sharing and command coordination between the two armies.

CaMo is intended to achieve full operational interoperability by 2027 through the formation of Combined Arms Tactical SubGroups (CATSG) composed of Belgian and French units operating under a shared structure. The program extends to doctrine, logistics, and command systems to standardize battlefield operations. Luxembourg has been included to some extent, and discussions are ongoing regarding Ireland's potential participation. By aligning military equipment, training, and communication systems, CaMo establishes a common framework for land operations among participating countries. Alexandre Dupuy stated that the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) procures the Griffon on behalf of Belgium, while Belgian representatives are integrated into the French Army structure under CaMo.

The 382 Griffon vehicles ordered under the CaMo contract will be assembled, painted, tested, and finalized at this facility before being delivered to the Belgian Land Component. The first Griffon is scheduled to be assembled in January 2025, with the vehicles expected to be operational from 2026 to 2031. The facility will integrate various Griffon configurations, including the Griffon MEPAC, equipped with a 120mm mortar, and the Griffon SAN, a medical evacuation version. MOL CY's production capacity is projected to reach up to nine Griffon vehicles per month at full capacity. The assembly process follows a structured approach, with base vehicle components supplied by KNDS France (formerly Nexter) from its Roanne site, while Belgian-produced FN Herstal remote weapon stations and Thales electronic systems will be integrated at Staden. The site also includes a testing track for performance evaluations.

The Belgian Griffon vehicles will be equipped with FN Herstal remote weapon stations, configured for 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine guns, as well as a 40mm grenade launcher. In addition to standard troop transport versions, the Griffon MEPAC variant, featuring a 120mm mortar system, will be incorporated into the Belgian fleet. The Griffon Génie, a combat engineering version, will be designed for mobility support, urban operations, and explosive ordnance disposal. It will include a front-mounted winch, a rear towing hook, and mission-specific kits for tasks such as mine clearance, counter-mobility, and rapid deployment support. These variants are designed to align with the French Army's Scorpion program, maintaining operational compatibility and interoperability between French and Belgian forces under the CaMo framework.

The Griffon, also known as the VBMR (Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle), is a 6x6 wheeled armored personnel carrier with a combat weight of 25 tonnes, developed under the French Scorpion program to replace the VAB. It has a maximum road speed of 90 km/h and an operational range of 800 km, powered by a 400-horsepower Renault Trucks 6-cylinder turbodiesel engine coupled with a ZF seven-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle's protection meets STANAG 4569 Level 4 standards, capable of withstanding 14.5mm armor-piercing rounds, artillery shell splinters, and mine/IED blasts, with modular armor kits available for increased protection.

It is equipped with a remotely-operated T1 Hornet weapon station, armed with a 12.7mm or 7.62mm machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher, while some variants integrate Akeron MP missiles or a 120mm MEPAC mortar system. Defensive systems include the GALIX self-protection system with eight 80mm smoke grenade dischargers, the PILAR V acoustic gunfire detector, and an infrared jammer. The Griffon also features the SCORPION Combat Information System (SICS) and Thales CONTACT tactical radio for real-time battlefield coordination, along with a laser warning system, missile approach detector, and electronic countermeasures. Variants include infantry transport, command post, artillery observation, medical evacuation, and combat engineering versions, all designed to ensure operational interoperability within Scorpion-equipped units.