Lacroix demonstrates its Galix Automatic Obscurant System at the Suippes firing range.

Lacroix is one of the few defense countermeasures and pyrotechnic systems manufacturers in the world. The 26th edition of Eurosatory took on new significance as the family-owned group, which has been exhibiting since the trade fair’s debut, is celebrating its 170th anniversary and showcasing numerous innovations and concepts with originality. Lacroix also spotlighted its new realistic training systems (REPY), the first concept of which was unveiled during Eurosatory 2016. These simulators will first equip French combat training centers and then be included as a component of the CENTAURE and CERBERE programs, among others.

For security reasons and wind direction, the Galix firing was done in the target direction, which differs from actual combat situations. Three Galix turret firings of G13 and G17i ammunitions were performed. (Picture source: Lacroix)

In partnership with GIAT industries, Lacroix developed the Galix vehicle self-protection system with a smoke masking capability in the visible and infrared (IR) domains for protection against hostiles. Galix currently equips over 15,000 platforms (armored and non-armored) in France and abroad. Its recognized capabilities led it to be chosen by France to equip the Scorpion program (Jaguar and Griffon). The system consists of a coupled launcher suite providing 360° protection. One of the strengths of Galix munitions resides in its deployment of instant protection (< 1sec) and its masking duration. The Galix offer was completed in recent years with a “semi-automatic” and “automatic reaction” capacity.

On June 15, 2018, independantly from Eurosatory where Lacroix could demonstrate its systems in simulators, the company took part to an exceptional demonstration as a natural extension of virtuality: reality. In fact, CMI Defence successfully organized its first Cockerill Firepower Symposium, a dynamic live firing demonstration in front of some sixty representatives of military delegations from around the world and from the international press. For the first time in its history, CMI Defence had the opportunity to show all the systems in its Cockerill turret range in a single firing sequence. This day allowed demonstrating in real situation both the quality of design and the firepower of Cockerill weapons systems. Due to the French army rules on the shooting range, the vehicles were not allowed to perform the recommended escape maneuver and, for security reasons and wind direction, the Galix firing was done in the target direction, which differs from actual combat situations. Three Galix turret firings of G13 and G17i ammunitions were performed.

General (2s) Bernard Guillet, Defense Advisor of the Etienne Lacroix Group, said: "We are delighted to have also been able to demonstrate, through our participation in this event, the quality and efficiency of Galix, our integrated soft-kill self-protection system, integrated or integrable on any type of platforms equipping the Land Forces. In less than a second, the Galix system concealed and protected the weapons systems that CMI Defence introduced. "

The Galix credible multi-band screening smoke is indeed deployed in less than 1 second, a stunning and unrivalled performance: the speed at which the smoke screen nearly “sky-rockets” in a wide half-circle in front of the vehicle is an evidence of the maximum protection offered by the Lacroix system. A major advantage is that the decoy effect remains effective in visible and infrared spectrums, whatever the environment and the weather conditions. The Lacoix Galix G46 offers additional capabilities tailored to specific mission such as “peace-keeping operation” by combining multiple responses simultaneously such as sound, tear gas and kinetic effects.

At system level, the Galix Automatic Obscurant System (AOS) can be installed on all types of platform, man-turret, remote control weapons stations (RCWS) or any tailored made combination request by the end-user and protect up to 360°. It can be fully integrated with the vehicle BMS and triggered manually or fully automatically. It can be connected to a Global Position System (GPS), Meteorological sensor (MET) and can provide maneuvering recommendation tactics through specific displays. The Galix AOS can be connected with other features such as a laser warning sensor suite, “real-time” threat monitoring for small arm fires with acoustic gunshot detector.