Discover Centaure the latest French Gendarmerie armored vehicle at its first Bastille Day parade.

On July 14, 2025, the French Gendarmerie reached a symbolic milestone with the first participation of the Centaure armored vehicle in the traditional military parade on the Champs-Élysées. Three units led the column of the Mobile Gendarmerie Armored Group (GBGM), the result of a program launched in 2021 and now fully operational. During the parade rehearsals, Squadron Leader Guillaume, a commander within the GBGM, presented this vehicle in detail, designed to become a central tool for law enforcement and heavy intervention missions of the Gendarmerie.
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The Centaure, officially designated as the Multi-Purpose Intervention Vehicle of the Gendarmerie (VIPG), is gradually replacing the VBRG vehicles introduced in 1974

The Centaure, officially designated as the Multi-Purpose Intervention Vehicle of the Gendarmerie (VIPG), is gradually replacing the VBRG vehicles introduced in 1974. Built by the French manufacturer Soframe in Alsace, it was conceived as a robust and modular platform, capable of meeting a wide range of operational requirements. Weighing 14.5 tons and measuring 7.5 meters in length, nearly 3.9 meters in height, and 2.9 meters in width, it is powered by an engine of more than 300 horsepower and equipped with all-terrain capabilities allowing it to overcome obstacles and operate in both urban and rural environments. Its interior accommodates three operators and seven passengers, providing immediate deployment capacity for ten personnel.

The development of the Centaure reflects a strategy of capability renewal and adaptation to contemporary threats. According to Lieutenant Colonel Thibaut Lucazeau, operational coherence officer for the project, 90 vehicles are scheduled for delivery by 2025, distributed among the GBGM in Satory, nine provincial mixed squadrons, and units stationed overseas. The armored vehicle is intended for deployment in law enforcement operations as well as in severe crisis situations, whether riots, terrorist incidents, or natural disasters. Its armored protection, towing and pushing capacity, and advanced optronic systems, including a long-range thermal camera, enhance the operational safety and effectiveness of the deployed forces.

One of the main strengths of the program is modularity. The Centaure can be fitted with a remotely operated turret for tear gas grenade launch, a 7.62 mm machine gun for high-threat environments, or additional systems such as the Pilar V gunshot detection device and full CBRN protection. Its open architecture was designed to integrate future equipment such as drone platforms, radars, or jammers, ensuring adaptability over the coming decades. This flexibility is complemented by a revised training framework. Crews are now required to complete extended courses, including simulator-based driving and specialized training modules, to fully master the vehicle’s capabilities.

On a symbolic level, the Centaure’s presence in the July 14 parade illustrates the modernization underway within the Mobile Gendarmerie, which faced particularly intense deployment in 2024 during the Olympic Games, riots in New Caledonia, and relief operations in Mayotte after cyclone Chido. The deployment of eleven vehicles on the Champs-Élysées, operated by squadrons from Satory and Sathonay-Camp, highlighted both the legacy of the VBRG and the Gendarmerie’s shift toward updated technological standards. The name Centaure reflects both institutional identity and tradition, while also referencing the symbolic attributes of strength and continuity associated with the force.

The manufacturing of the vehicle, carried out entirely in France and using domestically produced armored steel, demonstrates an emphasis on industrial sovereignty. This approach ensures logistical and technical support close at hand, while reinforcing the Ministry of the Interior’s ability to rapidly project forces, including in external operations. The Centaure has thus become a central element of internal defense assets, intended for use in law enforcement, counterterrorism missions, civilian protection, and high-intensity scenarios in coordination with the armed forces.

The Centaure is not limited to replacing the VBRG. It represents a broader transformation of the Mobile Gendarmerie as it adapts its capabilities to an increasingly complex security environment. With this vehicle, the Gendarmerie positions itself to combine traditional missions with modern requirements, domestic operations with external deployments. Its first participation in the July 14, 2025, parade marks an important step in this transition and underlines its progressive integration into core operational structures.