The French Army’s SCORPION programme – success in triplicate

With numerous procurement and upgrade efforts occurring across the European continent, France’s SCORPION (synergie du contact renforcée par la polyvalence et l’infovalorisation) programme remains a standout among Europe’s ground forces modernisation efforts. This article examines the key capabilities being replaced or improved under SCORPION, as well as the road taken to get there.

Under the auspices of the SCORPION programme, France’s Armée de Terre is introducing three new wheeled armoured vehicles into service in the form of the Engin Blindé de Reconnaissance et de Combat (EBRC), Armoured Reconnaissance and Combat Vehicle, Jaguar; the Véhicule Blindé multirôles (VBMR), Multirole Armoured Vehicle, Griffon and the Véhicule Blindé Multirôle Léger (VBMR-L) light multirole armoured vehicles, Serval. These armoured vehicles will each benefit from being fitted with the Système d’information du combat de SCORPION (SICS), a networked combat information system, from Atos. This will be further integrated to interact with the Fantassin à équipements et liaisons intégrés (FELIN) integrated infantry soldier equipment and communications system and the future Centurion soldier system. In addition, it will interoperate with the French Army ATLAS artillery command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) system, SIT-ALAT French Army Aviation C3I system and higher formation C3I systems.

The Jaguar, Griffon, Serval and SICS are arguably the central elements of the SCORPION programme, which can be considered transformational for the French Army in terms of the number of new armoured vehicles being acquired and the advanced capabilities they will deliver. Added to which is the capabilities of the SICS system to provide an accurate battlefield picture of friendly and opposing forces that will allow French units to respond rapidly to evolving battlefield conditions.

Upgrading the heavy hitters

Another facet of the SCORPION programme needs to be taken into account, namely the upgrade and life extension programme for the majority of the in-service Leclerc main battle tank (MBT) fleet of the French Army. In total, 200 upgraded Leclerc XLR tanks have been contracted for – with KNDS France – with the first 13 being delivered to the 501e régiment de chars de combat (501e RCC) at Mourmelon-le-Grand. In 2024, a total of 21 Leclerc XLR tanks are due to be delivered, with a total of 160 tanks scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2030 with all 200 Leclerc XLR tanks due to be delivered by 2035. The Leclerc XLR fleet will provide the French Army with heavy armour capability until gradually replaced by the future Franco-German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), as well as acting as insurance against delays in the MGCS programme.

The Leclerc XLR has significantly upgraded protection, which includes appliqué armour on the front of the hull sides and slat armour at the rear; anti-mine protection is increased via the installation of additional armour on a belly plate on the bottom of the vehicle hull. Also fitted is the BARAGE IED jammer, with another new feature being the installation of an FN Herstal deFNder medium remote weapon station (RWS) mounting a 7.62 × 51 mm MAG machine gun on the turret roof. The tank also benefits from the installation of the SICS combat information system and the Thales CONTACT communication system.

Another new feature for the Leclerc XLR is the Safran PASEO very long-range commanders’ observation and attack sight. This has a thermal imager, day HD TV system, laser rangefinder, pointer and designator, and is capable of automatic target tracking, as well as real-time sector scanning and tracking. Also improved are the capabilities of the 120 mm CN 120-26 smoothbore gun of the Leclerc, with the arrival of the HE IM3M high explosive (HE) ammunition nature. This is a multi-mode programmable HE round, an insensitive munition compatible with STANAG 4439.

Combat reconnaissance solution

The French Army, perhaps more so than others in Europe, has always been enthusiastic about the possibilities offered by wheeled armoured vehicles. Typical applications include combat and reconnaissance tasks, as well as protected mobility. In-service wheeled armour has also given rise to an array of variants and sub-variants to meet specialist tasks. The fact that France anticipates operating in diverse operational environments also favours wheeled armour, as mission requirements often extend beyond Europe to encompass rapid deployments in support of French interests in Africa for example.

Initially, the French Army fielded the Panhard EBR 8×8 vehicle as its combat and reconnaissance platform (Panhard is a legacy company of today’s Arquus). The initial variant was equipped with a 75 mm SA49 rifled gun, with the upgraded variant featuring a CN 90F2 90 mm low-pressure gun, while the third EBR variant featured a new turret mounting a 75 mm SA50 gun. Useful though the EBR was, it was too heavy to support rapid deployment missions and that created an opening for the acquisition of the Panhard Auto Mitrailleuse Léger (AML). Initially the AML was acquired as a light reconnaissance vehicle, though it was then developed for internal security missions.

What would transform the fortunes of the AML was its evolutionary potential, with the French military purchasing some 900 vehicles; the AML would be adopted by 47 other countries, with total production being in the region of 5,000 vehicles. In terms of combat capability, the most significant variant was the AML-90 that had a turret with a 90 mm D921 F1 gun. As time went on, the French Army replaced the EBR and the AML, leading to the adoption of the AMX-10RC.

The AMX-10RC was a 6×6 vehicle, larger than the EBR, equipped with a turret mounting the 105 × 527R mm F2 BK MECA L/47 medium-pressure gun. The vehicle entered service in the early 1980s, with France acquiring 300, Morocco 108 and Qatar 12. In 2000, KNDS France was awarded a contract to upgrade 256 AMX-10RC to the AMX-10RCR configuration; first deliveries were in 2005, with final deliveries in 2010. The 105 mm gun of the AMX-10 provided a useful combat capability, but as this was primarily a reconnaissance platform armour protection was limited.

Good though it was, the AMX-10RC presented the French Army with a problem – they still had a requirement for a light armoured vehicle with a combat capability for rapid deployment, but the AMX-10RC was too large for rapid deployment. Fortunately, Panhard had decided to develop a successor to the AML for export markets and this resulted in the Engin à Roues Canon (ERC). The initial version was the ERC-90 F1 Lynx that was purchased by Argentina; the French military procured the later variant – the ERC-90 F4 Sagaie. This was a 6×6 vehicle with a combat weight of 8.3 tonnes (considerably lighter than the AMX-10RC), with a TS90 turret mounting a CN F4 90 mm cannon capable of firing APFSDS, HEAT and HE ammunition natures. The French Army acquired 192 Sagaie vehicles, of which 162 were upgraded between 2005 and 2009 with a new engine, transmission and gearbox.

By 2010, France had embarked on a programme to develop a new generation of wheeled armour to replace the AMX-10RC and the ERC-90 Sagaie, which would eventually result in the EBRC Jaguar. Jaguar would also replace the anti-tank version of the VAB (of which more later), and the VAB Mephisto, which mounted four HOT anti-tank missiles. While the ERC-90 has been withdrawn from service, the AMX-10RCR remains in service and will do so until the new Jaguar fleet is deployed in numbers. France has also delivered 38 AMX-10RCR to Ukraine as a part of its military assistance to resist Russian aggression.

Facing the future

A number of different options were investigated in the search for an AMX-10/Sagaie/VAB Mephisto successor system in terms of configuration – 8×8 versus 6×6 – and in terms of the armament fit that would be appropriate for a future reconnaissance/combat platform. Another important consideration was the industrial consequences of the EBRC platform and of the VBMR replacement of the large numbers of the in-service VAB fleet. Add these efforts to the overall SCORPION programme and it became clear that failing to win manufacturing contracts for these French Army wheeled armoured vehicle programmes would risk excluding a losing contender from this armoured vehicle sector for at least a generation, if not permanently!

The early years of the SCORPION programme essentially came down to a series of choices, starting with defining the operational requirement and establishing a funding structure that could support meeting that operational requirement, and sustaining a long-term procurement and support plan. Then came a set of decisions to determine how they were could deliver the necessary systems and then establish the industrial structure that could build and sustain all of these new systems. Central to this process was the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement authority.

The industrial aspects of the SCORPION programme, at least as far as the Jaguar and Griffon were concerned, were resolved by the formation of a Groupement Momentané d’Enterprises (GME). In France, a GME is a temporary agreement between several companies to develop a common proposal in response to market requirements. By working together and establishing a GME, the member companies could successfully tender for major programmes that they could not win separately. In this particular case, the GME was formed by KNDS France, Arquus and Thales.

By 2014, the new armoured vehicle programmes were officially underway. In the context of the EBRC Jaguar, the baseline vehicle design had been settled and with the establishment of the GME, the industrial aspects had also been settled. In 2017, an initial order for 20 Jaguars was placed and in 2018, the first Jaguar prototype was ready. By 2020, Jaguar orders amounted to 62 vehicles and in 2021 the first vehicles were delivered to the French Army. By the end of 2023, a total of 60 Jaguar vehicles had been delivered.

The EBRC Jaguar has a combat weight 25 tonnes, but with the ability to accept weight growth to accommodate additional protection or other systems as part of ongoing upgrade programmes through the service life of the vehicle. The armaments selected for Jaguar mark a change of emphasis for the French Army, because previously the main armament for a combat and reconnaissance platform would have been a 90 mm or 105 mm gun. With a crew of three, Jaguar took a different approach – its turret mounts a CTA International 40CTAS (Cased Telescoped Armament System) 40 mm automatic cannon. Available ammunition natures include: Armour-Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot – tracer (APFSDS-T), Kinetic Energy Airburst (KE-AB), General Purpose Round-Airburst-Tracer (GPR-AB-T), General Purpose Round-Point Detonating-Tracer (GPR-PD-T), General Purpose Round-Kinetic Energy Tracer (GPR-KE-T), Target Practice-Tracer (TP-T) and Target Practice Reduced Range-Tracer (TPRR-T).

The turret also has two MBDA Akeron MP anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), with significantly improved performance compared to the HOT family missiles previously used by the French Army for medium and long-range missiles engagements. A Hornet RWS mounting a 7.62 × 51 mm machine gun is mounted on the turret roof, with Lacroix Galix obscurant smoke grenade launchers located either side of the turret face. The objective is for the French Army to eventually acquire 300 vehicles.

Replacing the VAB

The Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé (VAB) came into French service at the end of the 1970s and was procured in massive numbers to meet multiple requirements, with some 4,000 units acquired. In French service, the VAB was a 4×4 system, however, while acceptable for France, in export markets a higher performance and payload version of the vehicle was required, leading to a 6×6 variant. Africa and the Middle East represented significant markets for the 6×6 VAB. With regard to the French Army, there were at least 27 VAB variants in service at one time or another!

Recognising that a VAB replacement would have to be a very flexible platform, a 6×6 design solution was adopted as this offered more performance and payload. The end result was the VBMR Griffon, which would be manufactured by the GME of KNDS France, Arquus and Thales, as with the EBRC Jaguar. Producing the Griffon in large numbers delivered economies of scale in terms of pricing, plus sharing components with the Jaguar also aided with cost management. According to the DGA, the French Army requires a total of 1,872 Griffon vehicles to replace the 2,700 VABs still in service. Surplus French Army VABs are being supplied to Ukraine Ground Forces, with 250 delivered thus far, with the possibility for further VABs to be donated.

During 2023, a total of 123 Griffons were delivered to the French Army, thus bringing the total deliveries to 575. As with the VAB, the Griffon is being acquired in numerous variants and sub-variants, but it is worth noting that one Griffon variant is being treated by the DGA as a completely different system. That is the Mortier embarqué pour l’appui au contact (MEPAC) mortar carrier with an integrated 120 mm Thales 2R2M mortar; the system is also linked into the French Army’s ATLAS artillery C3I system.

If we comply with the DGA description of the MEPAC as a separate system, there are therefore five main Griffon variants: the VTT APC, the VOA artillery observation vehicle, the SAN ambulance, the EPC command vehicle and the NRBC NBC defence vehicle. That all seems rather straightforward, however it is not! The VTT variant actually has some seven sub-variants, which are the Félin infantry section vehicle, Félin MO81 with an 81 mm mortar, Félin STE sniper section vehicle, Félin MMP with Akeron MP anti-tank missile section, Genie engineer vehicle, ELI light intervention vehicle and RAV refuelling vehicle. Bear in mind that it is still in the early stages with the Griffon programme, more variants and sub-variants will undoubtedly appear over time!

Enter the Serval

While the Griffon could replace the VAB in many of its missions, there was still a need for another armoured vehicle to take on the remaining elements of the VAB mission profile. Equally, the new vehicle could provide a flexible protected mobility solution that could cover a multitude of different missions. As it was envisaged as a lighter vehicle, it would also be more readily deployable. In 2018, the DGA contracted for the new Véhicule Blindé Multirôle Léger (VBMR-L), later classified as the Serval, with the industrial elements handled by a new GME, comprised of KNDS France and Texelis.

With the Serval programme officially underway, it is difficult to imagine that those involved, whether military, the DGA or industry partners, had any idea how the scope of the Serval programme would expand. Remember, this was a 4×4 vehicle, light in comparison to the Jaguar and the Griffon, and again in comparison to the two other SCORPION vehicles, seemingly uncomplicated. Since the start of the programme, the Serval has proven uniquely capable of fulfilling both existing and newly-emerging operational requirements.

According to the DGA, at this point they envisage the Serval programme continuing through to 2035 and under the auspices of the SCORPION programme, the French Army is due to receive a total of 978 Serval vehicles. Separately, another programme, Véhicule léger tactique polyvalent protégé (VLTP-P), will see the acquisition of 1,060 Servals for a grand total of 2,038 Servals, according to DGA. As of early March 2024, a total of 208 Servals have been built.

The full details of the VLTP-P programme have yet to emerge, but what is apparent is the belief that unprotected utility vehicles such as the VT4, the Land Rover and similar vehicles are highly vulnerable under modern combat conditions and that the VLTP-P will provide a far more survivable system for certain mission profiles. There is interest in the Serval from the other French armed services and the vehicle would also be highly suitable to replace existing systems in paramilitary missions, for example with the Gendarmerie.

Turning to the Serval in the VBMR-L application, if one thought that there were a lot of Griffon variants and sub-variants, Serval surpasses that! The main variants include: Serval VPB armoured patrol vehicle, Serval Félin infantry section vehicle, Serval VOA artillery observer vehicle, Serval Génie engineer vehicle, Serval VPM81 81 mm mortar carrier, Serval VTM120 towing vehicle for a 120 mm RT F1 mortar, Serval EPC command post, Serval MMP with Akeron MP anti-tank missile section, Serval SAN ambulance and the Serval RAV refuelling vehicle.

That covers 10 identified Serval variants, but there are more to come, and these include: Serval SA2R, an ISTAR platform with two sub-variants – the Serval TDR for intelligence processing and Serval ACQ for target acquisition with a Thales MURIN ground surveillance radar and an optronics system. Another variant is the Serval NCT tactical communications node, which is likely to lead to more sub-variants in the near future. There will also be the Serval GE variant for electronic warfare (EW) missions.

The course of military operations in Ukraine since February 2022 has led to a new emphasis on air defence for ground formations, but also on having the capability to confront and defeat the drone threat. Serval has a major role to play in the French Army solution to air defence and anti-drone requirements. The Serval SATCP will mount the MBDA Mistral air defence system and will replace the old PAMELA air defence system mounted on the VLRA vehicle. The Serval LAD is the variant of the vehicle optimised to deal with the small drone threat. The French Army is already using MC2 Technologies NEROD jammer to combat drones, though the Serval LAD offers a more substantial response. The LAD will likely mount a KNDS France ARX30 RWS with a 30 mm automatic cannon and a co-axial 7.62 × 51 mm machine gun, a radar and a jammer.

Exports

French wheeled armour has traditionally been very successful in export markets and although the Jaguar, Griffon and Serval represent sophisticated solutions, and are therefore not cheap, it is anticipated that they will achieve export success. Indeed, the first export customer – Belgium –has been secured. The Belgian Land Component will equip its mechanised brigade primarily with French materiel under the Capacités Motorisée (CaMo) programme. The first phase of the CaMo programme has seen orders placed for 60 Jaguars and 382 Griffons, as well as two MEPAC mortar vehicle batteries. Under CaMo II, Belgium has ordered KNDS’ 155 mm L52 CAESAR artillery systems, and it is believed that CaMo II will also include a purchase of a number of Serval vehicles.

Other export opportunities are emerging in Europe, with the Luxembourg Armed Forces interested in the Serval. Interestingly, they are working towards acquiring the SICS combat information system and Thales CONTACT radios. Ireland used to be a major operator of French wheeled armour in the form of the Panhard AML-20 (20 mm cannon in turret), the AML-90 (90 mm gun in turret) and the M3 APC. While these were replaced by the Piranha III and other protected vehicles for other roles, Serval could certainly prove attractive to Ireland, as could Jaguar and Griffon if the funding was available.

David Saw