According to a video released on the YouTube account of the French Army, the new 6x6 wheeled armored personnel carrier vehicle dubbed Griffon can be also equipped with a wire cage armor also called slat armor, to increase protection against anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attacks.
French Army Griffon 6x6 armored vehicle fitted with slat armor. (Picture source YouTube account French Army)
The Griffon 6x6 armored vehicle will replace the fleet of VAB 4x4 armored vehicles in service with the French Army since 1976. The Griffon VBMR (Multi-Role Armored Vehicle) is a development of 6x6 Multi-Role armored vehicle for the French Army under the program EBMR Scorpion (Engin Blindé Multi-Rôle - Armored Multi-roles Vehicles). The EBMR program includes the delivery of 1,722 Griffon to the French Army which was started in 2018.
According to the acquisition plan of the French Army, 92 Griffon vehicles will be delivered in 2019, and a total of 936 vehicles will be delivered by 2025. On 22 June 2017, Belgium's cabinet approved a plan to purchase 60 "Jaguar" and 417 “Griffon” vehicles for €1.1 billion. The vehicles will replace the Belgian Army's Piranha IIIC armored personnel carriers and Dingo 2 infantry mobility vehicles.
The Griffon will have a weight of around 24,500 kg. and has been designed to offer a high level of off-road performance and a high level of ballistic protection through its modular armor system (up to NATO STANAG 4569 Level 4) that provides a ballistic protection against firing of small arms 14.5×114mm AP / B32 at 200 meters with 911 m/s and shell splinters at 30 m of the vehicle and mine protection 10 kg of mine explosion under the center of the hull and the wheels.
