VBCI Nexter Systems

8x8 Wheeled Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle France

From high-intensity combat missions to peacekeeping operations, the VBCI keeps an entire infantry section safe. VCBI is “Combat Proven” and is currently deployed in operation. VBCI represents the best balanced solution between protection, firepower, mobility, and payload. VBCI has unrivaled overall survivability: ballistic, mines and IED protection, “Soft Kill” systems. It is fitted with CBRN equipment.

The VBCI (French denomination of "Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie)") is a French wheeled armoured infantry fighting vehicle designed and manufactured by the French Companies Nexter Systems and Renault Trucks Defense. The VBCI was designed to replace the old tracked armored infantry fighting vehicle AMX-10P, which was used by the infantry mechanised units of the French Army. In November 2000, the French Ministry of Defence awarded a contract to Giat Industries and Renault VI (now Renault Trucks) for the first 65 vehicles (54 VCI – including 12 with the Eryx missile system – and 11 VPC). A joint venture company, Satory Military Vehicles, was set up by Giat and Renault Trucks to be responsible for the VBCI and a number of other vehicles. Renault has responsibility for the mobility systems, including the driver's station, engine, gearbox, suspension and axles and on-board electrical networks. Giat is responsible for the armored hull, interior furnishing, assembly and integration of the turret and vehicle, observation, command and control, weapons and self-protection systems. The first two prototypes were completed in May 2004. Five prototypes have been delivered, four VCI and one VPC, and are undergoing qualification trials. One is taking part in operational trials with the French Army. Serial production is underway and the first three production vehicles were delivered in May 2008, two IFV and one command variant.
Qualification was granted by the DGA in March 2008 and the VBCI has now gone into series production. On 5 December 2008, the DGA placed a supplementary order with Nexter Systems and Renault Trucks Defense for 116 vehicles. This order brings the total number of vehicles ordered to date to 298 VBCIs. The DGA has accepted the first 49 vehicles in accordance with the initial schedule. In September 2009, The Minister of Defence, Hervé Morin, today announced an order for 332 VBCI armored infantry combat vehicles for the Army. The order was awarded by the defence procurement agency, Délégation générale pour l’armement (DGA) to a joint venture company owned by Nexter Systems and Renault Trucks Defense. This latest order increases to 630 the number of VBCIs on order for the Army, as specified by the White Paper on defence and national security. The total cost of the VBCI program, including development and pre-production, is 2.86 billion euros. (approx. $4.1 billion).

Around one hundred vehicles are being produced annually for France, but the assembly line could deliver at a significantly higher rate, to meet any possible export requirements. The basic simplicity of the VBCI means that the production line could also be transferred, in the event of export contracts involving local provisioning, production and/or integration.

In December 2009, GTD and Nexter Systems have signed a shareholder agreement under which a Spanish joint venture will be formed within the next few weeks. One of the main tasks of the new company will be to fulfil the contract for the Spanish "Vehiculo Blindado Ruedas 8x8" (VBR 8x8) program to replace the existing BMR vehicle.

Variants:

- VPC : (command post vehicle) is equipped with a terminal information system (SIT) FINDERS®, developed by Nexter Systems, a regimental information system (SIR), developed by EADS, and a remotely controlled 12.7 mm cupola. 150 VPCs have been ordered for the French Army.
- VBCI : (infantry fighting vehicle) can be equipped with 20mm RWS, 25mm, 30mm, or 40mm medium-caliber turret and a 7.62 mm MG. The rank VBCI is also available in mortar and Eryx (short-range, anti-tank missile system) versions, and can also be equipped with 25 to 105 mm turrets, or even a 120 mm low-recoil. 550 « rank » version VCIs have been ordered by the French Army.
- VTT : (Troop Transport Vehicle) is designed to transport troops. It has an interior volume of 13 m³ and can carry a 2-man crew and up to 10 soldiers with their equipment. The VTT is sized to meet export requirements and is currently being considered by several national armies.
- Other types of utility vehicle can also be produced, based on the same platform: Ambulance, Repair vehicle. Mine Clearance, etc. The total possession cost is optimized with the use of a single platform common to all variants.