French army receiving additional Griffons and first Jaguar armored vehicles.

In 2020, 128 EBMR Griffons armored vehicles were delivered to the French army. 119 additional ones are scheduled for 2021. The goal is also to deliver a total of 20 EBRC Jaguar reconnaissance vehicles in 2021.
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EBMR Griffon (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Let us remind that, in September 2020, the DGA notified the third conditional tranche of the EBMR contract, enabling the second batch of vehicles (271 Griffons and 42 Jaguars by 2023) to go into production. In November, the Griffon command post vehicle (EPC) was qualified. Thus, among the 128 Griffons of 2020, 35 examples of this new variant were presented to the administration, an additional difficulty that the EPC teams overcame. Finally, the new-generation T1 remotely operated turret that will arm the Griffons was also qualified by the DGA.

On December 18, 2020, Nexter, Thales and Arquus, as part of the temporary grouping of companies (GME) EBMR (Engins Blindés Multi-Rôles, multirole armored vehicles), presented the 128th Griffon planned for 2020 to the French Delegation for Armaments (DGA). Under the terms of the Scorpion program, and despite an unprecedented health crisis that profoundly affected production, the three manufacturers were able to take the challenge and meet their contractual objectives.

The arrival of the first Griffons allows the Army to truly enter the Scorpio era, with a platform that benefits from significant advances in terms of protection, mobility and the ability to gradually integrate into the info-enhanced collaborative combat (intelligence sharing, acceleration of the decision-making loop). The objective, therefore, remains to project a first Griffon combined arms battle group (Groupement Tactique InterArmes, GTIA) in foreign operation by the end of 2021.

The 13th DBLE (Demi-Brigade de Légion Eyrangère) has just received its first EBMR Griffon (Picture source: Twitter account of the French army)

EBRC Jaguar (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The EBRC Jaguar is a new generation of 6x6 armored vehicle jointly manufactured by the GME, a consortium formed by the French companies Nexter Systems, Arquus, and Thales. Arquus supplies the driveline and the turret, a T3 model. Notice that, for the French market, Arquus uses the T1, T2 and T3 designations, while Hornet is the name used on the export market. Beyond the four EBRC Jaguars already delivered to the DGA, 21 additional ones should be delivered in 2021.

The Jaguar EBRC (Engin Blindé de Reconnaissance et de Combat - Reconnaissance and Combat Armoured Vehicle) is one of the vehicles of the Scorpion program of the French Army. It will replace the AMX-10RCR, the ERC-90 Sagaie and the VAB HOT in service with the French Army. The program includes the delivery of 248 Jaguar EBRC to the French Army which is starting in 2021.

On 6 December 2014, the French Minister of Defense announced the first order of 20 Jaguar vehicles and in September 2020, 42 additional vehicles were ordered for the French Army. In total the French Army plans to acquire 300 Jaguars. The vehicle has been also selected by the Belgian army, with a plan to purchase 60 Jaguars. 

AMX10RCR of the 1st Régiment Etranger de Caalerie (Picture source: Twitter account of 1st REC CO)