Nexter Group delivers the 42nd EBG-VAL upgraded engineer armoured vehicle to French Army 1202144.

Derived from an AMX-30B2 chassis, the EBG-F1 was put into service for the first time in 1987. It has since been destined to fulfill support missions in combat, opening and closing routes, clearing obstructions or landscaping.

Faced with a wider range of threats and an ever-changing environment, in 2006 the DGA entrusted Nexter Systems with the task of upgrading 42 EBG-F1s, which became EBG-VALs, and 12 SDPMACs.

The aim of the program was to enhance protection, develop existing functions, provide new functions and improve ergonomics.

In total, 54 engineer vehicles were delivered between September 2011 and January 2014.

The EBG-VAL engineer armoured vehicle corps provides on the spot assistance to combat, command and support vehicles and field excavation vehicles by day and night. Mobility support is provided by opening obstructed routes, clearance or destruction of miscellaneous obstacles and anti-mine protection. It also supports counter-mobility by laying small-mined zones, creating obstacles (banks, ditches, barricades) and by destroying roads.

Manned by a 2-person crew, the EBG VAL has a straight blade with 29-ton thrust, a 15-ton load work arm, a log grapple, a lifting hook, a 20 ton, 80 meter hydraulic winch, a hydraulic chain saw and a mine launcher.