 |
 |
 |
Defense News - France |
| |
Monday,
15 November 2010, 17:00 PM |
|
|
| |
Aravis
Nexter, a new armoured to fight the improvised explosive
devices IED in Afganistan.
|
| |
|
| |
On
25 October 2010, the highly protected armored vehicle (VBHP)
Aravis Nexter was deployed for the first time in Afghanistan
by the French Army. This vehicle is designed to carry, under
armour protection, teams working to disable improvised explosive
devices (IEDs).
|
|
|
|
The 11 vehicles arrived in Kabul by chartered jumbo jet
at the end of September, and were taken over by a team
of experts from the Technical Section of the Army (STAT)
to convert them to fully-capable operational configuration.
In three weeks, they were fitted with jammers, perimeter
high-definition cameras, weapons, and communications and
navigation system.
The vehicles have now entered operational service with
the counter-IED mine disposal teams deployed in Kapisa
and Surobi, and with the special section tasked with route
opening in mined areas.
This latter section, deployed in the French area of responsibility,
is a particularly appropriate response to the fight against
improvised explosive devices, which is the main threat
to NATO troops in Afghanistan.
|
| |
|
|
Thanks
to the vehicle’s state-of-the-art design, combat engineers
now have a protection level that has been rarely achieved
to date. The vehicle is also particularly suited to the
Afghan theatre as its comfort level allows the crew to perform
its mission for long durations; it also offers excellent
mobility and easy handling. With a remotely-operated turret
equipped with a 12.7 mm machine gun coupled with a thermal
camera, the VBHP provides its crew with significant firepower
to fight back if attacked. Along with the SOUVIM route clearing
system and the Buffalo armoured vehicle, the VBHP rounds
out the route clearing capabilities available to French
troops. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
