French Army officially presents its new Jaguar combat vehicle.

On February 9, at Canjuers camp, the French army presented its new armored vehicle that will progressively replace the VAB HOT, the AMX10RCR and the ERC90 Sagaie. The 25-ton Jaguar is a new-generation combat vehicle from the SCORPION program. Very versatile, heavily armed and protected, it is also very mobile with 6-wheel drive and a steering rear axle.
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On February 9, at Canjuers camp, the French army presented the EBRC Jaguar, its new combat and reconnaissance vehicle that will progressively replace the VAB HOT, the AMX 10RCR and the Sagaie (Picture source: French army)

Benefiting from innovative technologies in terms of equipment and sensors, the Jaguar is intended to take part in combat in urban or mountainous areas. The French Ministry of Defense on January 21 announced the first delivery of 20 Jaguars to the "1er Régiment de Chasseurs d’Afrique", a cavalry regiment of the French army.

The development of the Jaguar is part of the SCORPION program intended to renew the armored units of the French Army, with the modernization of the Leclerc tanks (the army will finally keep 200 Leclerc MBTs upgraded/modernized to the XLR standard- and the replacement of the VAB (Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé) armored vehicle by the multi-role armored vehicle (VBMR) called Griffon (Griffin).

The Jaguar EBRC (Engin Blindé de Reconnaissance et de Combat - Reconnaissance and Combat Armored Vehicle) was jointly developed by the French companies Nexter Systems, Renault Trucks Defense and Thales. The vehicle will replace the AMX-10RCR, the ERC-90 Sagaie, and the VAB HOT in service with the French Army.

The Jaguar EBRC is fitted with a two-man turret 40 CTAS armed with one 40mm CTC cannon with Ammunition Handling System (AHS). The 40mm cannon will have a maximum range of 1,500 m. the weapon system also includes one remote weapon station armed with a 7.62mm machine gun mounted on the top of the turret. The right side of the turret is fitted with two launchers for the MMP (Missile Moyenne Portée - Medium Range Missile) missile. The MMP missile is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance which has a maximum range of 4,000 m.

In September 2020, France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces has ordered 42 Jaguar 6x6 armored vehicles. In total the French Army is set to receive 300 Jaguar vehicles by 2030 as part of a major recapitalization of the country’s ground forces. By 2025 150 Jaguars are set to be delivered.

EBRC Jaguar demonstrated at Canjuers camp (Picture source: French army)

SCORPION programme

The SCORPION program aims to create a scalable and flexible tactical combat system, capable of fulfilling all present and future operational missions of the Army. It currently includes six operations: three new armored vehicles (Griffon, Jaguar and Serval), the renovation of the Leclerc tank, the SICS information system and the operational readiness system. The 2019-2025 military programming law, promulgated on July 13, 2018, provides for the acceleration of the SCORPION program: 50% of the new medium armored vehicles will be delivered by 2025.

The purpose of this project is to modernize the midrange combat capabilities of the combined arms battle group by renovating certain equipment, developing others and improving command thanks to new means of information.

SCORPION is the armament program that will allow the Army to maintain its operational superiority. It aims to renew and modernize the Army's combat capabilities. The targets of the SCORPION program are 1,872 Griffon armored vehicles, 978 Servals, 300 Jaguars, and 200 Leclerc XLR tanks. 50% of new medium armor will be delivered by 2025.

CAMO programme

On June 21, 2019, the intergovernmental agreement between the French and Belgian governments relating to cooperation in the field of land mobility, entered into force: CaMo (Capacaité Motorisée, Motorized Capability). This agreement aims to deliver to the Belgian Army, 382 Griffon multi-role armored vehicles and 60 Jaguar armored reconnaissance and combat vehicles, which will enter service between 2025 and 2030. These vehicles will be identical to those of the French SCORPION program and therefore fully compatible with their French equivalents.

The CaMo strategic partnership thus opens up new and increased cooperation between the French Army and the Belgian Army. The two countries will exchange training in other related fields such as air-ground support, logistics, intelligence or engineering. The land forces of both countries are now planning the engagement in 2022 of one of their units with their own vehicles and under SICS with the Scorpion battlegroup.

On February 9, at Canjuers camp, the French army presented its new combat vehicle (Picture source: Twitter account of Amael Kotlarski)