Thales Nexter Sagem set up MARS joint company for architecture phase of Scorpion program

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Defense News - France
 

Tuesday , 30 November 2010, 08:19

 
Thales, Nexter, Sagem set up MARS joint company for architecture phase of Scorpion programme.
 
 
 
The Directorate General for Armaments (DGA) has selected Thales, Nexter and Sagem to lead the architecture design phase of French Army’s Scorpion program. This award covers a period of two years (increasing to four years is options are confirmed) and is valued at 21 million euros.
     
The Scorpion program includes several projects of modernization of the equipment and vehicles of the French Army of which the EBM (Medium armoured vehicle). Substitute of the VAB (wheeled armoured personnel carrier of the French Army-), his service entrance should intervene about 2020. The EBM would associate two vehicles, one of 10 tons and the other of 20 tons. The Army estimates to need 2.000 vehicles, to a million Euros part, to replace its 3.500 VAB.
The Scorpion program includes the EBM project to replace the VAB wheeled armoured

The Scorpion program includes several projects of modernization of the equipment and vehicles of the French Army of which the EBM (Medium armoured vehicle). Substitute of the VAB (wheeled armoured personnel carrier of the French Army-), his service entrance should intervene about 2020. The EBM would associate two vehicles, one of 10 tons and the other of 20 tons. The Army estimates to need 2.000 vehicles, to a million Euros part, to replace its 3.500 VAB.
     
In addition to the EBM, the Scorpion program also relates to the EBRC (Armoured Vehicle of Recognition and Combat), successor of AMX-10 RC, but in very small number: only 300 vehicles, to deliver as from 2018.
The EBRC project includes the successor of AMX-10RC
In addition to the EBM, the Scorpion program also relates to the EBRC (Armoured Vehicle of Recognition and Combat), successor of AMX-10 RC, but in very small number: only 300 vehicles, to deliver as from 2018.
     

To manage this architecture design contract, the three companies have created a dedicated joint venture company, called MARS (Maîtrise d’ARchitecture Scorpion, or Scorpion prime contractor), to ensure the program is managed autonomously and to simplify the industrial organization.

The three companies are leaders in their respective fields, and MARS will bring to the French military customer the benefit of their complementary skills, covering the entire Scorpion program, their knowledge of the combat equipment market and their understanding of current and future military requirements.

The MARS company's mission is to meet the equipment and capability challenges of future combat units, with a particular emphasis on operational coherence and economic performance. It will lead this project, in close and constant contact with teams from the DGA, the military staffs and ground forces, as part of a new cooperative work model which will maintain an open dialogue among various industry partners.