French Army will stage an exercise in June under its Scorpion modernization program 1202125.

The Scorpion program is a multibillion euro transformation effort by the Army, Direction Général de l’Armement (DGA) procurement office and Chief of Defense Staff to acquire a multirole troop carrier, a light tank, and a common command and control system; modernize the Leclerc tank; and reduce ownership cost. However, budget cuts could shutter the program.

The Scorpion program aims at fielding new families of vehicles replacing aging systems currently operational with the Army light and rapid deployment regiments, with further enhancement of current platforms employed with the heavy regiments (Leclerc Main Battle Tanks and VBCI infantry carriers.) As part of the Scorpion initiative all future elements will become networked, provided with advanced unmanned systems, intelligence gathering, observation and target acquisition, as well as precision guided weapons for combat units and combat support (artillery, mortars etc.)

Christian Mons, chairman of the Groupement des Industries Françaises de Defense Terrestre (GICAT) trade body, has called for a doubling to 100 million euros ($132 million) of government spending on research and technology in land systems, with a focus on robotics, force protection and aeromobility.

That figure compares with 700 million euros a year on across-the-board defense R&% spending. Mons called on the government to boost that to 1.3 billion euros.

The defense ministry previously committed 100 million euros annually in R&T to land systems but cut that in recent years.

France holds the Eurosatory International Defence & Security exhibition from 11 to 15 June 2012 in Villepinte, in the northern suburbs of Paris.