Nexter of France to deliver 12 Aravis 4x4 multipurpose heavily armoured vehicles to Gabon 2910143

These 12 ARAVIS® will be equipped with Nexter remotely controlled 20mm turret ARX20 and RPG protections PG-Guard, but also with Nexter Robotics reconnaissance UGV NERVA®LG. These vehicles will join a battalion which will be deployed in Central African Republic within the MINUSCA under the United Nations authority.

The Aravis is a multipurpose heavily protected armoured vehicle designed and manufctured by the French Company Nexter Systems. Nexter claims that the protection of the Aravis, based on the company's new Safepro armour technology, outclasses that of all existing 4 x 4 vehicles. Nexter describes the protection level as 4-4-4: Stanag 4569 Level 4 ballistic protection able to defeat 14.5-mm threats, Level 4 mine protection able to defeat ten-kg mines under the belly and wheels and all-round Level 4 protection against 155-mm artillery splinters

The Nexter PG-Guard provides effective ballistic protection against several rocket types. PG-Guard is economic, by virtue of its automated manufacturing process.

The ARX20 remotely controlled weapon station (RWS) developed and built by Nexter mounts the 20mm 10M621 automatic gun and fires 20x102 NATO ammunition at a rate of 750 rounds per minute.

The turret has 100 rounds in the ammunition stowage. It traverses at full 360 degrees at a rate exceeding 60 degrees per second, thus completing a full circle in about six seconds. According to Nexter, the gyro stabilized mount can be operated and fired on the move and engage targets with effective range of up to 2,000 meters. The total system's weight is 270 kg.

The NERVA®LG is a small unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) designed and manufactured by the Company Nexter Robotics. This UGV is able to perform reconnaissance and counter-IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) missions for route clearance.

The NERVA LG UGV is stated to be fully waterproof and throwable. In addition to being operated by 15 remote control, it can have semi-autonomous capabilities to reduce the operator’s workload, such as waypoint navigation or automatic back homing when the mission has been completed.