French Army’s 4th Chasseurs Regiment Engages in Edelweiss 24 Mountain Combat Training with AMX-10RC and VBLs.

From October 13 to 18, 2024, the 4th Chasseurs Regiment of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (BIM) will conduct a unique armored mountain combat exercise, Edelweiss 24, featuring AMX-10RCs and Light Armored Vehicles (VBLs). Taking place in the southern French Alps, a complex and elevated landscape, this training addresses the current needs of the French Army to enhance operational capabilities in mountainous regions, underscoring the importance of tactical and technological expertise in areas where mountainous conflicts, such as in Lebanon and the Caucasus, are ongoing.

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During the CERCES exercise, AMX 10RC tanks from the 4th Chasseurs Regiment (4e RCh) in firing phase (Picture source: French MoD)

The AMX-10 RC is a French-made wheeled reconnaissance armored vehicle, developed in the late 1970s to replace the Panhard EBR, entering French service in 1979. More than 300 units were produced, with exports to countries like Morocco, Qatar, and most recently Ukraine. Known for versatility, the AMX-10 RC has a 105 mm cannon, 7.62 mm machine guns (coaxial and turret-mounted), and advanced systems such as a laser range finder and thermal imaging for night operations.

Despite its age, it remains effective for reconnaissance and light combat missions. Mounted on a 6x6 chassis, the AMX-10 RC provides high mobility speeds up to 85 km/h and amphibious capability at 7.2 km/h in water. Its lightweight aluminum armor offers protection against small arms fire and shell splinters, while its hydropneumatic suspension enables adaptability to diverse terrains. Equipped with CBRN protection, it is suitable for environments with nuclear, biological, or chemical threats. Although gradually replaced by the EBRC Jaguar, it remains valuable in modern combat, including in Ukraine, where France has delivered around ten units since 2023.

The VBL Mk2 is a versatile light armored vehicle designed by Panhard for reconnaissance and patrol missions. With a welded steel hull, it provides protection against 7.62 mm small arms fire and shell fragments, with optional add-on armor to improve resistance to IEDs and mines. It can be fitted with a 360° ring-mounted 7.62 mm machine gun or a remotely-operated turret with a 12.7 mm machine gun, enhancing its defensive capabilities.

Powered by a Steyr 125-hp engine with a ZF automatic gearbox, the VBL Mk2 reaches a road speed of 95 km/h and has an 800 km range. It is also equipped with a centralized tire inflation system, increasing its mobility on difficult terrain, and can become fully amphibious within two minutes, propelled in water by a rear-mounted propeller. Standard equipment includes CBRN protection, air conditioning, and an onboard diagnostic system, ensuring suitability for current military needs.

This large-scale exercise will bring together 450 soldiers, including the "cavaliers de la cime" of the 4th Chasseurs Regiment, specialized in high-altitude armored combat. Edelweiss 24 aims to enhance the unit’s interoperability and coordination across different arms, services, and allied forces, deploying their full range of equipment in the Alps. The exercise will also include reinforcements from other units within the 27th BIM and a British Light Dragoons detachment, strengthening collaboration among French and allied forces, which is essential for coordinated action in multinational contexts.

The equipment deployed will include over a hundred vehicles, such as AMX-10RCs, Light Armored Vehicles (VBLs), Polaris MV850 quads, and motorcycles, ensuring mobility and firepower on the steep slopes of Bonette, Cayolle, Allos, and within the Ubaye and Drac valleys. The presence of drones, capable of tracking movement and providing real-time data, reflects the integration of recent technological developments, as seen in conflicts like Ukraine. Fighter jets will also support ground maneuvers, simulating necessary air support in areas where aviation can play a strategic role.

This five-day exercise offers the 4th Chasseurs Regiment the opportunity to train in its area of expertise, meeting current defense requirements for France and NATO. Since the start of the Eagle mission in 2022, France, as a leading nation in strengthening NATO’s defensive posture in Romania, has highlighted the importance of high-intensity operations in mountainous regions. Regular exercises with Romanian forces in the Carpathians, a complex high-altitude terrain, strengthen both mountain combat capabilities and NATO interoperability. With Edelweiss 24, the French Army continues to prepare its forces for current defense and deterrence challenges in difficult environments.