French Special Forces' Grizzly reconnaissance vehicle nears certification for airborne operations.

According to Opex360 on May 19, 2024, the Grizzly vehicle of the French 11th Parachute Brigade is approaching qualification for assault landing operations. Unlike many defense equipment programs publicized by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, the Grizzly's existence was revealed to the public during the Bastille Day parade on July 14, 2023, in Paris.
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The Grizzly vehicle is designed for deep reconnaissance and anti-tank combat missions alongside the Light Armored Vehicle, also known as VBL. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The term "assault landing" refers to a specific military operation involving the rapid deployment of combat-ready troops from a tactical transport aircraft onto a designated landing zone. This type of operation is designed to place a combat-ready detachment on the ground as quickly as possible, often within around three minutes. It typically involves using tactical transport aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules or A400M Atlas to deliver troops and vehicles like the Grizzly directly into the battlefield, enabling swift and effective action in securing key positions or engaging enemy forces.

According to the latest issue of the official magazine of the French Army, TerreMag, the Grizzly, although sizable, is air-transportable and on the verge of being qualified for "assault landing," making it suitable for such airborne operations. Developed by Arquus and derived from the Sherpa vehicle, the Grizzly originates from the PLFS (Special Forces Heavy Vehicle) program, which was initially intended to replace the Light Reconnaissance and Support Vehicles (VLRA) used by units under the French Special Operations Command (COS).

Launched in January 2016 by the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), the PLFS program's first 25 units did not meet COS's operational needs due to various malfunctions. These units were subsequently modified but still failed to satisfy COS, leading to their reassignment to the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade and the 11th Parachute Brigade for motorized patrols.

As reported by Opex360, the first delivered units of the Grizzly did not fully satisfy their intended users, leading to their reassignment as reconnaissance and airborne vanguard vehicles for the 11th Parachute Brigade, particularly for the 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment (RHP). The French Ministry of the Armed Forces specified that the 11th Parachute Brigade would receive around forty of these vehicles by 2030, with 50% of the promised units already delivered to the 1st RHP, and the 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment in La Réunion also set to receive ten units.

Arquus provided additional details on July 13, 2023, stating that the Grizzly was developed to provide crucial intelligence, infiltration, and exfiltration capabilities autonomously for several days in degraded and hostile environments. This new vehicle was designed in collaboration with the French Army's Technical Section and its mobility-space arrangement group (MOB-AGESTER) for autonomous deep reconnaissance and anti-tank combat missions alongside the Light Armored Vehicle (VBL).

With its 260-horsepower engine paired with an automatic transmission, high ground clearance, and angles of attack designed for rough terrains, the Grizzly is capable of reaching speeds up to 110 km/h and has a range of around 600 km. Despite its 11-ton weight and 6.4-meter length (with a height of 2.5 meters), the Grizzly is built for discretion, deep reconnaissance missions, and air transport via C-130 Hercules and A400M Atlas aircraft. The modular design of the Grizzly allows it to be equipped with a Browning M2 HB 12.7 mm heavy machine gun (or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher) and three 7.62 mm machine guns, providing significant firepower suitable for assault missions or forceful reconnaissance, along with carrying substantial payloads, such as a motorcycle or additional fuel.