French army takes delivery of the 500th VBCI 8x8 armoured infantry fighting vehicle 0807132

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Defence & Security News - France
 
 
Monday, July 8, 2013 10:21 PM
 
French army takes delivery of the 500th VBCI 8x8 armoured infantry fighting vehicle.
The consortium formed by Nexter Systems and Renault Trucks Defense has delivered the 500th armored infantry combat vehicle VBCI to the French army. The VBCI is the latest generation of armoured infantry fighting vehicle, the successor of the tracked armoured infantry fighting vehicle AMX 10P which is in service with the French Army since 1973.
     

French army VBCI in Mali.
     

The VBCI is available in two variants, the command post and the infantry fighting vehicle.

France's Directorate General of Armaments said the vehicle delivered -- one of 520 VCPs ordered -- is equipped with a 25mm gun turret and machine guns, and carries 11 soldiers. One-hundred-10 command post vehicles ordered from the consortium already have been delivered.

The VBCI was deployed to Afghanistan and Lebanon in 2010 and to Mali earlier this year.

     

Tracked armoured infantry fighting vehicle AMX-10P of French Army.