French army and Navy test Griffon and Jaguar armored vehicles for amphibious operations.

Earlier this November month, the Griffon and the Jaguar, two of the new armored vehicle types of the Scorpion program that will equip both the French and Belgian armies were submitted to boarding and landing (embarkation/disembarkation) tests carried on with a Landing Craft Utility and Landing Craft Utilities catamaran (EDAR) of the French navy.

French Army Jaguar and Griffon armored vehicles onboard Landing Craft Utilities, called CTM Chalands de Transport de Matériels in the French Navy. (Picture source video footage: French MoD)

The goal of these operational tests is to make sure these vehicles can embark on and disembark from the amphibious means currently used by the French navy (Marine Nationale): the EDAR (Engin de Débarquement Amphibie, or in English Rapid Fast Landing Ship) and the smaller CTM (Chaland de Transport de Matériel, LCU in English Landing Craft Utilities). The tests were progressive, starting from a concrete ramp, then from a wharf, and finally, embarkation from and landing on an unprepared beach with the support of engineer wheeled vehicles.

The Landing Craft Utility (LCU) is a type of boat used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops to the shore. They are capable of transporting tracked or wheeled vehicles and troops from amphibious assault ships to beachheads or piers.

Considering the eight of the Griffon, there were some doubts about the possibility of boarding an EDAR. The tests cleared those doubts. The excellent mobility of both vehicle types enables them to land on an unprepared beach and immediately start their combat mission. The tests enabled to define the actual number of vehicles that can be loaded on both types of ships, and in which order.

The next evaluation campaign will take place early in 2020. It will consist of transferring these vehicle types from a helicopter carrier to either an EDAR or a CTM.

The Griffon VBMR (Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle) is a new development of 6x6 Multi-Role armored vehicle for the French Army under the program EBMR Scorpion (Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle - Armoured Multi-roles Vehicles). The vehicle has also been bought by the Belgian army.

The Jaguar EBRC (Engin Blindé de Reconnaissance et de Combat - Reconnaissance and Combat Armoured Vehicle) is a development of a 6x6 Reconnaissance and Combat Armoured Vehicle for the French Army under the program EBMR Scorpion (Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle - Armoured Multi-roles Vehicles). The vehicle has also been bought by the Belgian army.