French army presented with first Griffon 6x6
The French army has been presented with its first Griffon Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôles (VBMR) 6x6 from the consortium of manufacturers that develop the vehicle, during a ceremony held in Satory, France on 4 July.
Emmanuel Levacher, president of Arquus – one of the vehicle’s manufacturers - presented Gen Jean-Pierre Bosser, the army’s chief of staff, with the first Griffon’s licence plate during the ceremony, which was also attended by French minister of the armed forces, Florence Parly.
Griffon is being delivered under the Scorpion programme, a French government initiative to modernise the army’s fleet of vehicles, and a consortium comprised of Arquus, Nexter and Thales is developing both the Griffon and the Jaguar Engin Blindé de Reconnaissance et de Combat (EBRC) 6x6 for the programme.
The standard Griffon will be an APC able to carry 11 personnel, while other variants will include ambulance, command post and artillery observation vehicles.
The consortium had expected to build as many as 1,722 Griffons to replace the army's wheeled VAB multirole vehicle, however, in May 2018 French DGA procurement agency officials said that under the new Military Planning Law that covers 2019 to 2025 the requirement would be raised to 1,872.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Lockheed Martin wins deals for missiles and systems worth $5 billion]()
Lockheed Martin wins deals for missiles and systems worth $5 billion
There continues to be an insatiable desire for air-defence and air-launched missiles and systems in the US and worldwide. Lockheed Martin’s latest deals reinforce the demand and highlight the supply chain challenge for manufacturing solid rocket motors.
-
![Bahrain approved for $500 million HIMARS order as production surges]()
Bahrain approved for $500 million HIMARS order as production surges
Lockheed Martin’s M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is being widely ordered and deployed. The company has been working to ramp up production while continuing work to design and produce more potent missiles.
-
![Kongsberg Defence Australia cashes in with government support for exports]()
Kongsberg Defence Australia cashes in with government support for exports
Kongsberg Defence Australia is building on the supply of Naval Strike Missile (NSM) systems to Australia to win exports with the support of the government through its Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) enterprise and Global Supply Chain Program.
-
![Milrem THeMIS robot tests weapon firing to beyond one kilometre]()
Milrem THeMIS robot tests weapon firing to beyond one kilometre
The Milrem Robotics Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) has seen extensive service in Ukraine with an additional six ordered for Ukraine in May.
