French Army gains tactical Intelligence with new SERVAL electronic warfare vehicle.

France qualifies the SERVAL electronic warfare vehicle, its first frontline SIGINT platform, boosting NATO interoperability and battlefield intelligence.

On September 15, 2025, the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) announced the qualification of the first tactical signals intelligence (SIGINT) system integrated into the light multi-role armored vehicle SERVAL. This step is important as it represents the first electronic warfare capability directly embedded on a SCORPION family platform. The integration of electromagnetic sensors into a vehicle designed for mobility and modularity considerably broadens the operational scope of the French Army.
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The first deliveries of the SERVAL electronic warfare variant, designated SERVAL GE, are scheduled for the second half of 2025 to the 54th Signals Regiment, the French Army’s electronic support unit (Picture source: DGA)

The SERVAL, weighing 17 tons, was designed as a lighter complement to the GRIFFON to meet frontline unit requirements. It is modular and configured for four main roles: armored patrol, tactical communication node, surveillance and reconnaissance, and electronic warfare. It can carry up to ten soldiers equipped with the FELIN system and relies on the common SCORPION vetronics, including the SICS and CONTACT systems, to share tactical data in real time. As a result, the vehicle functions not only as a protected transport but also as an information node for light units.

In terms of armament, the SERVAL can be equipped with a remotely operated turret fitted with either a 12.7 mm machine gun, a 7.62 mm machine gun, or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. This configuration provides options ranging from anti-materiel fire to suppression and support. Its protection package combines ballistic armor, anti-mine devices, and optical and acoustic threat detectors, while mission-specific kits allow for easier maintenance and capacity upgrades.

The system qualified by the DGA introduces the first version of the French tactical SIGINT program. Designed to intercept, classify, and exploit adversary electromagnetic emissions, it can monitor radios, encrypted communications, and frequency-hopping transmissions. What makes this development distinctive is its integration into a standardized armored platform interoperable with the broader SCORPION program. The sensors cover a wide frequency spectrum, enabling detection of signals from land, naval, and aerial environments, thus providing French forces with flexibility in diverse operational settings.

The first deliveries of the SERVAL electronic warfare variant, designated SERVAL GE, are scheduled for the second half of 2025 to the 54th Signals Regiment, the French Army’s electronic support unit. Initial testing will take place during the Small Joint Operations 2025 exercise. The aim is not only to validate the technical aspects but also to assess how SIGINT is integrated into combined-arms maneuvers. Once in service, the vehicle should allow tactical commanders to locate and analyze adversary communications almost in real time, improving decision-making processes on the battlefield.

This development reflects a broader trend: electronic warfare capabilities are no longer limited to fixed or heavy systems but are increasingly embedded within combat units. By moving electromagnetic intelligence closer to the frontline, French forces will be able to disrupt adversary communications, identify targets for precision strikes, and strengthen protection measures.

The inter-service dimension is another key aspect. The same SIGINT family will also be deployed on French Navy surface combatants, on the Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, and in deployable ground systems for the Air and Space Force. This consistency ensures that data collected by one service can be correlated with information gathered by others, providing a more complete intelligence picture at the national and allied levels.

The strategic context highlights the urgency of this capability. Recent conflicts in Eastern Europe and tensions in the Indo-Pacific have shown that control of the electromagnetic spectrum is central to modern operations. Both NATO allies and potential adversaries have invested heavily in electronic warfare over the past decade. For France, ensuring that its expeditionary forces possess reliable SIGINT is essential for operations in Europe and abroad. Standardizing the tactical SIGINT system across services also positions France to contribute coherent electronic intelligence capabilities within NATO, where interoperability remains a constant challenge.

The DGA has indicated that the system will continue to evolve, with future iterations expected to expand processing power and adapt to new adversary technologies. From the outset, however, the combination of SERVAL’s mobility and advanced sensors demonstrates that modern armored vehicles are now assessed not only by their protection or firepower, but also by their ability to detect, communicate, and operate as part of a larger networked force.