SOFRAME Launches Its Groundbreaking MOSAIC Initiative

SOFRAME, a division of the Alsace-based LOHR group, renowned for its specialty in armored vehicles utilized by military and security forces, has introduced its MOSAIC initiative.

MOSAIC serves as a framework tailored to satisfy the demands for lightweight reconnaissance and support vehicles tailored for combat crews.

MOSAIC, an acronym for Mission Observation Surveillance Acquisition Investigation Combat, embodies the versatile essence of this vehicle type, representing a protected mobility option featuring an open architecture that facilitates numerous adaptations. MOSAIC particularly aligns with the anticipated capabilities of the future French military program, Véhicule Blindé d’Aide à l’Engagement (VBAE), or Armoured Engagement Support Vehicle, available in three primary configurations:

• the reconnaissance and intelligence gathering vehicle,
• the direct fire combat vehicle,
• and the transport vehicle designated for the Medium Range Missile (MMP) team.

Crafted with a focus on returning to symmetrical high-intensity engagements, MOSAIC features significant innovations in ballistic protection technology. The platform’s bio-inspired design utilizes flue pipes to redirect the impact of explosions, a patented innovation. The armored chassis leverages solutions combining ultra-high hardness steels (HHS) and high-performance non-metallic materials, ensuring crew members and sensitive systems receive the level of fortress-style protection expected from a forward combat vehicle.

MOSAIC also advances the field of high mobility. The drivetrain has been engineered to seamlessly incorporate components of a fully electric hybrid system, enabling the vehicle to operate silently during stealth reconnaissance missions. The electrical system, a fortified and militarized version of the eco-friendly technologies developed by the LOHR Group for low CO2 emission public transport solutions, also provides energy for the weapon systems and can enhance engine torque for immediate acceleration, a critical factor for survival in specific combat scenarios. The electric propulsion feature is also remarkably user-friendly for operational robotics applications, allowing a MOSAIC vehicle to be controlled remotely without personnel onboard.