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| One of the first production VBCIs ready to roll out of the Roanne Nexter production plant in mid-April 2008. The first batch of vehicles will be handed out to the French Army this Spring, in both VCI (photo) and VPC variants. About 750 VBCI should be delivered to the French land forces before 2015. © Jean-Michel Guhl |
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VBCI production
now in full swing at Nexter's
By Jean-Michel Guhl
in Roanne, France
The first batch of 65 VBCI infantry combat vehicles for the French Army is now well underway at the Nexter's production plant in Roanne, central France. Having been fully accepted by the French defence procurement agency (DGA) as of February 19th, 2007, the new series vehicles are gradually being lined-up before receiving their NATO camouflage colours in view of their imminent collection by the French infantry units due to field very soon the first VBCIs with the Régiment de Marche du Tchad (RMT) at Noyon heading the way for "ops" trials. To date over 30 VBCIs have already been produced in Roanne.
Due to supersede in service over the years the tracked AMX 10 P of the seventies, the VBCI (a JV between Nexter and RTD) meets the requirement for an infantry fighting vehicle combining great mobility, very high protection level and the ability to fit the mission changes. Today it is also intended for the support of tanks during offensive actions or for dismounted operations in urban areas, although its first use will be that of a combat and escort vehicle — well protected against IEDs — in Afghanistan in 2009.
The contract awarded by the French Army (development + production) includes two main versions:
• an Infantry Fighting Vehicle (VCI) which will mainly equip the Mechanized Infantry units and will also support the Leclers main battle tank battalions. There exists two variants of the baseline VCI: the standard troop transport VCI and the Eryx VCI (carrying an Eryx armed section).
• a Command Post Vehicle (VPC). About one out of five VBCIs in production now is a VPC command vehicle.
In the near future, the VBCI will embark the modern "wired" infantryman (FELIN) and will fit into the NCW-enabled battlefield through its digitised battlefield management system.
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| Pierre Roux, head of the VBCI programme at Nexter's. © Jean-Michel Guhl |
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Thanks to its modular design, the VBCI family is intended to expand
with a variety of variants as requested by the French and the foreign
Armies, the pre-feasibility studies of which are under way, explained
Pierre Roux, the manager of the VBCI programme at Nexter's. For Pierre
Roux, the 8x8 solution makes it possible to design vehicles featuring
high tactical mobility and simultaneously incorporating the same
protection and armament as tracked vehicles. Compared to the latter,
the wheeled vehicles can move faster and are offer a higher level of
comfort over long distances. In addition, they are cost-effective in
terms of acquisition, fuel-efficient and easier to maintain. The VBCI
is airtransportable in a Airbus A400M.
With a welded hull made
out of 17 basic aluminum alloy plates provided by ALCAN or ALCOA to
Nexter's precise specifications, the VBCI has been designed for a high
intensity combat environment. Its modular "bolt-on" amoured structure
(made of 40 to 60 kg flat steel armour plates easily carried by two men
— allows protection to stick to changing threats. It can be equipped
with a wide range weapon systems depending on the operational
requirements. The IFV (VCI) version is fitted with a one-man 25 mm
automatic gun turret with remote observation, sighting and firing
capability duplicated to the commander's station. This configuration
offers the functionalities of a two-man- turret with lesser space
requirement and allows the team leader to disembark easily for leading
his combat team.
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| Close-up on the remotely operated 0.5 in. machine-gun of the VBCI/VPC version. For self-protection, the VCI version carries many Gallix smoke greande launchers, certain with specific ECM properties. © author |
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Considering that the Infantryman represents the
heart of the system, the design of the VBCI is such that it integrates
a human factor approach. It creates the conditions required for the
effectiveness of the fighter, with optimised onboard living comfort and
ease of equipment operation. The use of commercial off-the-shelf
components and the search for standardisation contribute to reduce
costs and render maintenance much easier.
Nexter plans to
deliver some fifty VBCI to the French Army in 2008. More will follow in
2009 and 2010 with the second batch of 117 VBCI ordered earlier this
year by DGA. The first VBCIs are to be fielded by the 35e Régiment
d'Infanterie in Belfort between October 2008 and May 2009 (a few going
as well to the Ecole d'Application de l'Infanterie in Montpellier), by
the 92e Régiment d'Infanterie in Clermont-Ferrand between September
2009 and April 2010, and finally by the 152e Régiment d'Infanterie in
Colmar between October 2010 and April 2011. (Roanne - 04-17-2008)
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| Production of over 700 VBCIs for the French Army is now under way at the Nexter's Roanne plant. Deliveries should last until 2015, export poduction excluded. © Jean-Michel Guhl |
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