Belgian Army Unveils First Griffon 6x6 Armored Vehicle for Force Modernization and Digital Warfare.

Belgian defense officials and military personnel unveiled the first Griffon 6x6 armored vehicle at the Infantry School during a press demonstration ahead of its official entry into service with the Belgian Army. The combat vehicle marks a major step in Belgium’s modernization under the Franco-Belgian CaMo program (short for Capacité Motorisée, or Motorized Capability), aligning Belgian land forces with French Scorpion combat systems (a family of modern digitally networked vehicles and support equipment developed for the French Army).

The Belgian Army presented its first Griffon 6x6 armored vehicle during a press demonstration at the Infantry School in Arlon, offering an early look at the platform that will soon equip frontline units. The vehicle, part of the joint Franco-Belgian CaMo (Capacité Motorisée, meaning Motorized Capability) modernization program, is expected to formally enter Belgian service in the coming months as crews begin training and familiarization. 
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The first Griffon 6×6 multirole armored combat vehicle delivered to the Belgian Army is displayed during a press demonstration at the Belgian Army Infantry School, where it will be used to train instructors and crews ahead of its operational introduction within Belgium’s future medium brigade under the Franco-Belgian CaMo program. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

Built by KNDS France and ARQUUS (Now part of John Cockerill Defense) for the French Scorpion program (a program for next-generation, interconnected vehicles and digital warfare systems), the Griffon is designed to replace older armored personnel carriers while introducing advanced digital battlefield networking. Belgian forces will operate the vehicle in close doctrinal alignment (meaning with tactics, procedures, and operational principles that match) with French units, enabling greater interoperability during NATO and EU operations.

The new Griffon 6x6 armored vehicle presented during the press demonstration marks the first tangible presence of the Scorpion-generation armored fleet in Belgium’s land forces. The vehicle will support training activities at the Infantry School before it formally enters operational service, allowing instructors to develop doctrine, tactics, and maintenance procedures prior to the wider fleet’s arrival in operational units. The Griffon’s introduction will progressively replace several legacy wheeled armored combat vehicles in Belgian service, notably the Piranha III infantry fighting vehicle and the Dingo 2 protected patrol vehicle, which have delivered protected mobility to Belgian troops in both national defense and international deployments for nearly two decades.

Belgium’s acquisition of the Griffon is part of the CaMo program, a deep operational partnership with France that aims to align the Belgian Land Component with the French Army’s Scorpion modernization architecture. The program represents an investment of approximately €1.5 billion, covering armored combat vehicles, training, support infrastructure, and integration into the Scorpion digital combat system, which enables real-time battlefield data sharing between vehicles, command posts, and combat units.

Belgium has ordered a total of 474 Griffon multirole armored combat vehicles (VBMR) as of December 2025. The procurement began with an initial order of 382 vehicles, which formed the backbone of the CaMo program, followed by additional procurement tranches that expanded the fleet to support the full operational structure of the Belgian medium brigade. In late 2025, Belgium announced an additional order for 92 Griffon combat vehicles, bringing the total to 474 planned for service with the Belgian Land Component. Alongside the Griffon fleet, Belgium is also procuring 60 Jaguar reconnaissance and combat vehicles, which will provide direct fire support and reconnaissance capabilities within the same Scorpion ecosystem.

The production of vehicles for Belgium involves significant industrial participation in the country. The Griffon armored combat vehicles destined for the Belgian Army are assembled in Belgium by Mol Cy in Staden, ensuring local industrial involvement in the program while supporting maintenance and lifecycle support. Production of the Belgian fleet is scheduled to continue through 2031, reflecting the scale of the procurement and the phased fielding approach adopted by the Belgian Ministry of Defence.

Within the Belgian configuration, the Griffon fleet will be delivered in several operational variants designed to support a wide range of missions across mechanized infantry formations (infantry equipped with armored vehicles for high mobility and protection). These include the troop transport variant, which will serve as the primary armored carrier for Belgian infantry squads, as well as command post vehicles, engineering support variants, and medical evacuation configurations designed to support battlefield casualty care. Additional versions will include combat vehicles configured for artillery observation and fire support coordination, reflecting the vehicle’s modular architecture and its role as a multi-mission combat vehicle within the Scorpion ecosystem (a networked suite of combat vehicles sharing digital information on the battlefield).

The Griffon brings a significant leap in protection, digital connectivity, and mission versatility compared to the vehicles it will replace. The Piranha III has served as the Belgian Army’s primary wheeled armored combat vehicle. It was originally designed as a modular armored personnel carrier and infantry fighting vehicle, but lacks the integrated digital battle management architecture now essential for modern network-centric warfare. The Dingo 2, which performed highly effectively in protected patrol and convoy security roles during operations in Afghanistan and other expeditionary missions, was optimized for light protected mobility rather than fully integrated mechanized infantry operations.

The Griffon addresses these limitations by combining troop transport capacity, advanced protection, and digital connectivity into a single combat vehicle designed specifically for high-intensity operations (combat situations that require robust equipment and rapid response). Built by the KNDS-Nexter, Arquus, and Thales consortium, the 6x6 combat vehicle has a combat weight of roughly 24.5 tons and carries a crew of two plus up to eight infantry soldiers. Powered by a 400-horsepower diesel engine, it can reach road speeds of over 90 kilometers per hour and has an operational range of approximately 800 kilometers, supporting long-distance maneuver operations across large operational theaters (the wider area or geographic region in which military operations are conducted).

Protection is significantly improved compared with previous Belgian combat vehicles. The Griffon incorporates a reinforced V-shaped hull (an underbody shape designed to deflect blasts from mines and improvised explosive devices) and modular armor designed to withstand improvised explosive devices, mines, and ballistic threats common in modern combat environments. The vehicle can also be equipped with remotely operated weapon stations, typically mounting a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun or a 7.62 mm machine gun, allowing the crew to engage threats while remaining fully protected inside the armored hull.

One of the most transformative capabilities introduced by the Griffon is its integration into the Scorpion digital combat architecture. This system connects combat vehicles, infantry units, and command elements via a shared tactical information network, enabling crews to exchange real-time situational awareness, target information, and command instructions. This level of digital integration represents a major technological step beyond the analog command and communication systems used in the Piranha III and Dingo 2 fleets.

During the demonstration at the Infantry School, attention was given not only to the vehicle’s physical characteristics but also to its role within this broader digital combat ecosystem. The Scorpion architecture enables units equipped with Griffon and Jaguar combat vehicles to operate as interconnected nodes on the battlefield, thereby significantly improving coordination among reconnaissance, maneuver, and fire support elements. This network-centric approach is intended to shorten decision cycles and enhance combat effectiveness in complex operational environments.

For Belgium, the arrival of the Griffon fundamentally transforms its land forces. The CaMo program aligns Belgian doctrine, equipment, and logistics with the French Army’s Scorpion ecosystem, creating a highly interoperable combined capability between the two countries. Belgian units equipped with Griffon combat vehicles will operate alongside French formations in high-intensity operations, NATO missions, and European rapid reaction deployments.

The early introduction of the vehicle at the Infantry School is critical to this transition. Instructors and training cadres will use the vehicle to develop new operational procedures, driver training programs, and maintenance protocols before the wider fleet begins equipping operational units. This preparatory phase will ensure that Belgian infantry units are fully ready to exploit the vehicle’s mobility, protection, and digital connectivity once the Griffon becomes operational across the force.

As deliveries continue over the coming years, the Griffon will progressively replace older armored vehicles and become the backbone combat vehicle of Belgium’s medium mechanized brigade. The current training phase, therefore, represents the first visible step in a broader modernization effort that will reshape Belgian land combat capability while reinforcing interoperability with France within the Scorpion operational framework.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.