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| Capable of road speeds over 100 km/h the new VBCI has an unrefuelled range of 750 km. One of the pre-production VBCI infantry combat vehicles for the French Army evaluated by the STAT Angers test centre of DGA is pictured here during a test session © J.-M. Guhl |
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| The box-like VBCI, although far from being a slick and trendy ICV, is a very innovative armoured vehicle that has many trumpcards in hands; Built in joint venture by Nexter and Renault Trucks, it is due ton enter service in mid-2008 © J.-M. Guhl |
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French VBCI
programme
right on track
By the Editor
in Angers, France
Soon to be the successor in French Army service of the tracked AMX 10P infantry
fighting vehicle which has now been around since the seventies, the VBCI (or Véhicule Blindé de
Combat d'Infanterie) is a large wheeled 8 x 8 infantry fighting vehicle with
modular protection kits which can be bolted on depending on the threat expected on the battlefield.
Made in France for French Army use, the VBCI has been ordered in 700 copies. Two versions exist, of which 550 will be VBCI-VCI infantry
fighting vehicles and 150 VBCI-VPC command post vehicles.
A true progress, in contrast with the older AMX 10P, the VBCI carries more, is a real combat integrated vehicle (NCW capable), has much better mobility and is far less costly to maintain. Competition today is represented by transport vehicle like the Boxer, Patria, MRAV and Piranha IV, or true combat tracked vehicle like the Bradley, Warrior, Marder, etc.
The VBCI programme started with the new millenium when in November 2000, the French Ministry of Defence awarded a contract
to Nexter (than Giat Industries) and Renault Véhicules Industriels (now Renault Trucks Defense) for the first
65 vehicles divided into 54 VCIs and 11 VPCs. In September 2003, relations were re-organized between the two companies in view of the coming privatisation of Giat and the strong need to rationalise production of vehicles for land forces in France. Giat was designated the contractor and the marketing part of
the VBCI, and of the AMX 10P “revalorisé” and AMX 10RC “revalorisé”. Renault Trucks Defense than took over the whole responsibility for the marketing of the VAB. On the VBCI the workload is fully shared, RTD having the responsibility for the mobility systems, including the
driver's station, engine, gearbox, suspension and axles and on-board
electrical networks. Nexter is responsible for the armoured 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 for testing with the STAT, four VCI and one VPC.
The vehicle is planned to
begin series production in late 2007 and first deliveries are scheduled for the summer of 2008. Intended to be air transportable in the future A400M European tactical transporter, contrary to the VAB, the VBCI will not be a floatable vehicle, but fording capacity is possible to a depth of 1.2 m without preparation and 1.5 m
with. The vehicle is road and railway gauge compatible like all NATO vehicles.The VCI infantry fighting vehicle version has a combat weight of 28 tonnes and accommodates the two crew, the gunner, the driver and a combat team
of eight fully "FELINized" troops and a commander. The soldiers can rapidly embark or
disembark from the power operated ramp door at the rear of the vehicle. The VBCI will operate in high intensity operations and with
Leclerc main battle tanks. The crew and foot-soldiers are protected from a
range of lethal threats, including 155 mm shell shrapnel and small and medium
calibre shells. The welded steel and aluminium alloy hull is fitted
with spall liners and add-on titanium armour plate to protect against
anti-tank weapons. The box structure floor and running gear provide
protection against exploding mines. Episcopic sights protect the driver, gunner and commander against eye damage by hostile laser hazards. Common features include suspension, air conditioning, interior free
volume, storage space, NBC warfare protection, and noise and vibration
protection.
For close combat, the VCI vehicle is fitted with a one-man Nexter Dragar turret armed
with a modulat dual feed 25 mm NATO cannon type 25 M811 (400 rounds/min) with 150 rounds in the
turret and a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. The gunner is seated in the turret. The gunner's sight is supplied
by Thales Optronique. It is a multisensor optronic
sight that includes a direct day optical channel, a thermal imager, a
laser range finder and video channel linked to the weapon fire control
system. The sight includes a new generation Catherine-QW multi-quantum
well
thermal camera, based on technology developed by Thales Optronique and
Sofradir. The periscopic sight sub-assembly and the laser rangefinder
are manufactured by Thales Optronics in the UK. The vehicle commander
has a remote display from the gunner's sight equipped
with an override control suite allowing the commander to operate the
turret and weapons. The commander also has a day / night
image-intensifying observation periscope developed by Thales Angenieux,
in partnership with Giat Optique. Traditionnal episcopic sights protect
the driver, gunner and commander against eye damage by hostile laser
hazards. |
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| The VPC variant of the VBCI is a dedicated command post vehicle manned by a crew of seven. It is complete with tactical data link to command and monitor dismounted troops fiited with the Sagem FELIN combat system. It has two SIT terminals and two PR4G radio sets. The VPC command post vehicle is equipped with a remotely operated FN 12.7 mm machine gun turret. An anti-tank version, armed with the Eryx missile system, is also being considered to augment the VBCI’s urban combat capabilities © J.-M. Guhl |
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The VCI commander's station is equipped with the SIT terminal
information system, developed by Giat and EADS Defense Electronics
Systems. SIT is used on French Army
Leclerc MBTs as well. Nexter is responsible for the software and system
integration, EADS for the computer and graphics terminal. The system
connects the weapon systems and the command vehicles equipped with them
to the chain of command. It allows the exchange of digitised data,
including the tactical situation and graphic orders displayed on a
background map, between the vehicle and the unit commander. The vehicle also has high rate secure data and voice communications and a BIFU combat identification system. The distinct VPC command post vehicles will be fitted with the Regimental Information System (VBCI/VPC/SIR) developed by EADS.
The 550hp diesel engine with an in-line six-cylinder configuration
and automatic gearbox are installed in the front right of the vehicle. It is powerful enough to allow the VBCI to reach 100 km/h on roads and to climb extremely steep slopes if needed.
In-line transmission to all 8 wheels is by four central axles protected by armoured
housings. The exhaust gases are diluted to reduce the infrared
signature of the vehicle. The 50cm ground clearance, hydropneumatic suspension and wheels with
395/90 R22 Michelin tyres fitted with a driver-controlled variable pressure
system provide mobility on all types of terrain. The front two pairs of
wheels are guided and with a turning radius of 17m the vehicle can
manoeuvre in confined spaces. A powerful braking system also allows for rally type turns on the spot. At the STAT, the VBCI has demonstrated
good manoeuvrability in rough terrain over obstacles such as 60° forward
slope, 30° side slope, 2 m trench and 0.7 m steps. The vehicle can be
driven with seven wheels only if a wheel is lost by mine explosion.
A few countries have shown a real interest for the VBCI, with Belgium, Greece and South Africa among them. Meanwhile the British Army is due to borrow from DGA two such vehicles for evaluation in the UK. With a largely overstretched defence budget, the United Kingdom will buy its next ICV on the shelf rather than developing a full British concept. Only the specific bolt-on armour plates could be designed in the UK. [Angers - 05-30-2007]
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| With a normal weight of 28 tons, the standard VBCI is also equipped with a Sagem MPS turret sight and LIRE infrared decoy system and smoke grenade launchers © J.-M. Guhl |
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