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Griffon VBMR

6x6 wheeled multi-role armored vehicle EBMR Scorpion France

Griffon EBMR 6x6 Armoured Multi roles vehicle France French army defense industry military equipment 925 002

Description

The Griffon VBMR (Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle) is a new development of a 6x6 Multi-Role armored vehicle for the French Army under the program EBMR Scorpion (Engin Blindé Multi-Rôle - Armoured Multi-roles Vehicles). The vehicle was designed and developed by a consortium of French Companies including Nexter Systems, Arquus (formerly Renault Trucks Defense), and Thales. The Griffon program will also include the French Company Safran for optronics of fire control and observation devices. The vehicle will be used mainly as an armored personnel carrier but six versions of the Griffon are planned, Armored Personnel Carrier, Command Post, Ambulance, Artillery Observation, Engineer, and Recovery. In December 2014, On the occasion of its visit in the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade Artillery of Varces (Isère), Jean-Yves LE DRIAN, French Minister of Defence, handed the EBMR (Armoured Multi-roles vehicles) market to the CEOs of the GME (temporary consortium) formed by the French companies Nexter Systems, Renault Trucks Defense and Thales. Prepared by the Armament Procurement Agency (DGA), this market plans the development, manufacturing, and support of the EBMR of the SCORPION program. Under the EBMR contract, the Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle GRIFFON will replace the VAB 4x4 armored personnel carrier currently in service with the French Army. The EBMR program includes the delivery of 1,722 Griffon armored vehicles to the French Army which could be started in 2018. A total of 780 vehicles are expected to be delivered by 2025. The main role of the Griffon VBMR is to provide the French Army with a new armored personnel carrier with a high level of protection and mobility. At Eurosatory 2016, real size mockup of the French Army Griffon VBMR was presented for the first time. In April 2017, the French army procurement agency (DGA) announced the first order of 319 Griffon Multi-Role Armoured Vehicles. On 22 June 2017, Belgium's defense ministry approved a plan to purchase 60 jaguar and 417 Griffon combat vehicles worth US$1.2 bn. On October 26, 2018, the Belgian Council of Ministers approved the proposal of the Belgian Minister of Defense to award the purchase of new combat vehicles Jaguar EBRC (reconnaissance wheeled armored vehicle) and Griffon VBMR ( wheeled multi-role armored vehicle) to France for the benefit of the Belgian Land Component. In July 2019, Mrs. Florence Parly, French Minister of Defense, has visited the French armored vehicles manufacturer Nexter in its Satory plant for the official reception of the first 6x6 multi-role armored vehicles designated VBMR Griffon. On the 24th of December 2019, the temporary company grouping EBMR received an inspection report for the delivery of the 92nd VBMR-GRIFFON 6x6 wheeled multi-role armored vehicle from the quality department of the French Army Defence Procurement Agency (DGA/SQ). On December 6, 2021, the GME (Groupement Momentané d'Entreprises) EBMR (engin blindé multi rôles) delivered to the French Army the 119th and last GRIFFON planned for 2021. A total 128 GRIFFONs had been submitted for verification in 2020, and 92 in 2019, making a total of 339 GRIFFONs since the notification of the TC2 conditional tranche of the EBMR contract. On May 10, 2022, France announced a new order of 302 Griffon 6x6 armored vehicles. 

Griffon VBMR variants

The Griffon VBMR will be also delivered in an ambulance, command post, artillery observation, engineer, mortar carrier, and recovery variants.


Technical Data

Armament
The Griffon is fitted with a T2 remote weapon system manufactured by the French Company ARQUUS, that can be armed with a 7.62mm or 12.7mm heavy machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Such equipment is used on modern military vehicles, as it allows a gunner to remain in the relative protection of the vehicle. The turret is fitted day-and-night sighting system to increase the accuracy of the weapon and the capacity to have a field view for the commander and gunner for detection, recognition, and identification of targets. The turret is also fitted with METRAVIB's SLATE acoustic sniper localization system and smoke grenade dischargers. In option, the vehicle can be armed with two MMP (Missile Moyenne Portée - Medium-Range Missile) anti-tank guided missiles manufactured by the French Company MBDA. The missile is designed to have a maximum range of 4,000m with fire-and-forget mode which does not require further guidance after launch such as illumination of the target or wire guidance and can hit its target without the launcher being in line-of-sight of the target. The front of the turret is fitted with 8 smoke grenade dischargers part of the GALIX counter-measure system developed and manufactured by the French Company Lacroix. 
Design and protection
The Griffon layout is standard with the power-pack at the front, the crew in the middle, and the troops' compartment at the rear. The Griffon will have a weight of around 24,500 kg. and has been designed to offer a high level of off-road performance and a high level of ballistic protection through its modular armor system (up to NATO STANAG 4569 Level 4) that provides ballistic protection against firing of small arms 14.5×114mm AP / B32 at 200 meters with 911 m/s and shell splinters at 30 m of the vehicle and mine protection 10 kg of mine explosion under the center of the hull and the wheels. The Griffon can be also fitted with a wire cage armor to increase protection against anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attacks. At Eurosatory 2014, Renault Trucks Defense (RTD) displayed its BMX-01 which seems to be 80% of the design of the new Griffon, according to some representatives of RTD. The Griffon will replace the standard armored personnel carrier of the French Army, the VAB. In Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) configuration, the Griffon is capable to carry a total of 11 soldiers including the driver, commander, gunner, and 8 infantrymen. In option, the vehicle could be equipped with add-on armor to increase ballistic and mine protection. The crew cabin at the front of the vehicle is fitted with a large bulletproof windscreen and one door on each side. Each side of the crew compartment is fitted with two small bulletproof. At the rear of the hull, there is one power-operated ramp that opens downwards which allows infantrymen to quickly enter and leave the vehicle. The vehicle is fitted with mine-blast protection seats, four on each side of the troop's compartment.
Mobility
The Griffon VBMR uses a 6 wheels suspension and is motorized with a 400 hp. commercial Renault-Volvo diesel engine, with an automatic transmission, independent hydro-strut suspension, and front and rear-axle steering. The vehicle uses a 6x6 all-terrain truck chassis. The Griffon can run at a maximum speed of  110 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 800 km. 
Accessories
The Griffon VBMR is equipped with the latest technology of sight and day/night vision equipment. The standard equipment of the Griffon will include new command, control, and networking system. Like most of the modern combat vehicles, the Griffon VBMR features laser and radar warning protection system, detection of thread missiles, full nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection, with internal overpressure and air conditioning. Standard equipment of the Griffon includes a protective overpressure system, air-conditioning, Safran Electronics & Defense's Epsilon 10 terrestrial navigator, navigation system based on a hemispherical resonating gyro (HRG) technology, Scorpion Combat Information System (SICS), and Thales CONTACT (Digital Tactical Communications and Theater) radio system.

Specifications

Armament Armor
One 7.62 mm or 12.7mm machine gun, or 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Protection against the firing of small arms and shell splinters (NATO STANAG 4569 Level 4)
Country users Weight
France 24,500 kg
Designer Country Speed
France 110 km/h
Accessories Range
Day/night vision, nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection, with internal overpressure and air conditioning. 800 km
Crew Dimensions
3 + 8 soldiers Length: 7 m; Width: 2.5 m; Height: 3.0 m

Details View

 
Griffon VBMR 6x6 Armoured Multi role vehicle France French army defense industry military equipment front side view 004 Griffon VBMR 6x6 Armoured Multi role vehicle France French army defense industry military equipment rear view 004
   
 Griffon VBMR 6x6 Armoured Multi role vehicle France French army defense industry military equipment left side view 004
 Griffon VBMR 6x6 Armoured Multi roles vehicle France French army defense industry military equipment right side view 004

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