French Military Unveils Latest Wave of Jaguar and Griffon Armored Innovations
Nexter, Arquus, and Thales, participants in the temporary consortium EBMR (Engins Blindés Multi-Rôles), received notification on 15 September from the French defense procurement agency (DGA) regarding the subsequent production phase of the contract for manufacturing the GRIFFON and JAGUAR engines for the SCORPION initiative. The DGA thus affirms the provision of 42 JAGUAR and 271 GRIFFON engines for the years 2022 and 2023, aligning with the 2019-2025 military programming law. This phase introduces the first GRIFFON Artillery Observation Vehicles (VOA) and GRIFFON Sanitary (SAN), which will complement the Troop Transport Vehicle (TTV) and Command Post Vehicle (CPV) variants.
These recent shipments will bolster the Army’s escalation of the SCORPION initiative. The integration of this new apparatus, designed for optimal protection and agility, will offer operators enhanced operational capabilities. For instance, collaborative combat involves linking all of the SCORPION program’s information-enriched vehicles in real-time. The firing start detectors, telemetry instruments, and various sensors embedded on the GRIFFON and JAGUAR units communicate to facilitate the decision-making processes of the vehicle commander. The JAGUAR’s highly integrated and digitized turret, along with its cutting-edge weaponry including the CTA40 40 mm telescopic gun, the MMP medium-range missile, and the Hornet remotely-operated turrets, significantly extend their operational scope. In summary, these state-of-the-art vehicles utilize the latest advancements in land-based technology.
The announcement of this order emerges in the third quarter of 2020, a period affected by the health crisis. Notwithstanding the challenges, the three companies have adhered to their obligations, having delivered 51 GRIFFON units this year, in addition to the 92 GRIFFON units provided in 2019. Nexter, Arquus, and Thales have undertaken substantial investments into the development and industrial qualification of the vehicles, while concurrently expanding their recruitment efforts, especially for engineers skilled in digital technologies.
As Stéphane Mayer articulates, on behalf of the three firms, Arquus, Thales, and Nexter (where he serves as CEO), “The program partners express wide satisfaction that this order, integrated into the latest military programming law, is being diligently upheld. We remain fully committed to fulfilling our responsibilities to the French Ministry of Defence by developing, providing, and sustaining the high-performance equipment that is anticipated.”
By placing this order, the DGA also ensures the stability of production for numerous program suppliers. The manufacturing of the GRIFFON and JAGUAR is projected to create nearly 2,000 highly skilled positions annually, distributed across five employment sectors, for a span of three years. Thus, the defense industry reaffirms its pivotal role in economic revival while aiding in maintaining industrial activity sustainability in France.
