First test firing with Jaguar 6X6 armored vehicle for 1st French Spahi Regiment.

On April 16, 2024, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Spahi Regiment announced the first test firings of the new Jaguar 6X6 armored reconnaissance and combat vehicle. This marks a significant step in the integration of this advanced weapon system and a crucial moment in the training of armored crew members.
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The Jaguar is armed with a 40mm cannon, a 7.62mm machine gun, and medium-range anti-tank guided missiles (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Jaguar 6x6, developed by a consortium including Nexter, Renault Trucks Defense (RTD), and Thales, is employed by the French Army and has piqued interest in Belgium. Weighing 25,000 kg and capable of speeds up to 90 km/h with a range of 800 km, its dimensions are 7.3m in length, 3m in width, and 2.6m in height.

The vehicle is armed with a 40mm cannon, a 7.62mm machine gun, and medium-range anti-tank guided missiles. It is designed to provide superior protection, meeting NATO STANAG 4569 Level 4 standards to protect its three-person crew against small arms fire and shell splinters. The JAGUAR is equipped with day/night vision systems, NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical) protection with internal overpressure and air conditioning, a laser warning system, a missile threat detection system, and countermeasures for radio and infrared jamming. These features enhance its round-the-clock operational capabilities and safety.

In the context of modernizing its military equipment, the French Army planned to replace its aging AMX-10 RC and ERC-90 Sagaie light-wheeled tanks with a new, more efficient, and better-protected model. Initially, the EBRC program aimed to acquire 70 to 250 armored vehicles. Nexter, Arquus, and Thales were selected for the development, with a planned order of 248 EBRCs by the DGA in 2016. The first order of 20 pre-series vehicles was placed in April 2017, and the military programming law for 2019-2025 increased the projected total to 300 units by 2030.

The production of these EBRCs takes place at the Nexter facility in Roanne, with 20 pre-series units delivered in December 2021, and the first 18 production units in May 2022. About 40 more vehicles are expected to be delivered in 2023. These acquisitions are part of the Scorpion program, which also includes updating the Leclerc tanks and replacing the Front-Line Armored Vehicles (VAB) with the Multi-Role Armored Vehicles (VBMR) Griffon.

Defense News April 2024