French Army Fields First 30 Serval Armoured Personnel Carriers for High-Intensity Warfare.

The French Army has officially received its first 30 Serval Appui SCORPION armored vehicles, the Ministry of the Armed Forces announced on January 21, 2026. The delivery marks a key shift from industrial development to operational deployment as France prepares its land forces for increasingly contested, high-intensity combat environments.

The French Ministry of the Armed Forces confirmed that the French Army has taken delivery of the first 30 Serval Appui SCORPION armored vehicles, formalizing the platform’s entry into operational service. The handover represents a decisive milestone in the SCORPION modernization program, as the Serval Appui transitions from a production effort into a frontline capability tailored for high-intensity conflict and networked, collaborative ground combat.
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The Serval Appui SCORPION enhances French Army units with a mobile, protected, and networked platform optimized for high-intensity combat and counter-drone operations. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The handover follows a contract signed in February 2025 with KNDS France and Texelis for the production of 530 Serval Appui SCORPION vehicles, valued at more than one billion euros. French defense officials emphasize that this initial batch is not limited to evaluation purposes but is intended for direct integration into operational units, reflecting growing urgency to adapt ground forces to conflicts characterized by drones, precision fires, and contested electromagnetic environments.

The Serval Appui SCORPION is derived from the Serval VBMR-L (Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle Léger), a 4x4 light multi-role armored vehicle developed by Nexter Systems, now KNDS, in cooperation with Texelis under the SCORPION program. Introduced into French Army service in 2020, the Serval VBMR-L has become a cornerstone of France’s rapid reaction and emergency response forces. It is recognized for its high level of tactical and strategic mobility, modular design, and balanced protection, qualities that the Appui variant fully inherits and expands for combat support roles.

Technically, the Serval is a medium-weight armored vehicle with a combat weight typically ranging between 15 and 17 tons depending on configuration. It measures approximately 6.5 meters in length, 2.53 meters in width, and 2.46 meters in height at roof level, allowing it to combine compact dimensions with a spacious internal volume. The vehicle is crewed by two soldiers, a driver and commander, and can carry up to eight fully equipped troops or mission specialists. Protection is provided by modular composite armor offering ballistic resistance against small arms fire and shell splinters, combined with reinforced mine and blast protection against IED threats. Optional ballistic overprotection kits and CBRN protection systems further enhance survivability in high-threat environments.

Mobility is one of the Serval’s defining strengths. The platform is powered by an 8.9-liter diesel engine developing 375 horsepower, coupled to an automatic transmission with six forward gears. This powertrain allows road speeds exceeding 100 km/h and ensures strong off-road performance across difficult terrain. With a road range of up to 800 kilometers, the Serval can sustain long-duration missions with limited logistical support. Strategic mobility is equally central to its design, as the vehicle can be airlifted by a C-130 Hercules in transport configuration or by an A400M Atlas, with up to two vehicles carried in combat configuration, as well as transported by rail or sea.

The Serval Appui SCORPION integrates the standard SCORPION digital architecture, including common vetronics and battle management systems that enable real-time data exchange with Griffon armored personnel carriers, Jaguar reconnaissance vehicles, and upgraded Leclerc main battle tanks. Its onboard situational awareness suite includes a 360-degree camera system, night vision and thermal imaging, laser warning and strike detection systems, as well as electronic warfare and jamming capabilities such as the BARAGE system. Communications are ensured through CONTACT radios and can be expanded with satellite links, including Syracuse IV, depending on the variant.

The modularity of the Serval Appui allows it to host a wide range of high value combat functions. One of the most critical roles planned is ground-based air defense of maneuver forces. A dedicated Serval Appui variant will be equipped with a turret allowing under-armor firing of Mistral 3 surface-to-air missiles, restoring short-range air defense coverage at brigade and battalion levels against helicopters, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft. Another key configuration focuses on counter-unmanned aerial systems, integrating a 3D radar, radio frequency detection sensors, a fire control system, and a turret-mounted 30x113 mm cannon firing specialized ammunition optimized for drone interception.

The Serval Appui family will also include tactical communication node variants designed to act as mobile command and connectivity hubs. These vehicles will integrate Syracuse IV satellite communications, line-of-sight radios, and network distribution systems, enabling command elements to maintain connectivity even in heavily contested electromagnetic environments. French Army sources underline that these communication nodes are essential to sustaining SCORPION’s sensor-to-shooter concept during high-intensity operations.

Industrial officials highlight that the Serval Appui SCORPION program represents a major long-term commitment to France’s land defense industrial base. Production is distributed across multiple KNDS France sites at Satory, Bourges, and Roanne, with Texelis contributing key automotive and mobility systems from Limoges. The program also relies on strategic subcontractors such as KNDS Ammo France, MBDA, CS GROUP, and Safran Electronics and Defense, ensuring sovereign control over missiles, munitions, sensors, electronics, and command systems.

Deliveries of all 530 Serval Appui SCORPION vehicles are scheduled to continue through 2033 under the Véhicule léger tactique polyvalent framework. French Army planners view the platform as a critical link between heavier armored systems and lighter tactical vehicles, offering a unique combination of protection, mobility, and digital integration.

With the first 30 vehicles now in service, the Serval Appui SCORPION enters the operational phase as a central enabler of French combined arms maneuver. As specialized variants are fielded in the coming years, the vehicle is expected to significantly enhance the Army’s ability to protect its forces, counter aerial threats, and maintain command and control in the demanding conditions of modern high-intensity warfare.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group

Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.