DGA Places Order for JAGUAR and GRIFFON vehicle engines

French procurement agency confirms latest production phase for SCORPION programme.

28 September 2020
The GRIFFON Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (Photo: Alexandre ZEIGER / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

 

French SCORPION Programme Confirms Second Production Phase

 

Despite the challenges the pandemic presents for many industries, the French defence procurement agency DGA continued to ramp up its SCORPION vehicle upgrade programme with confirmation of the second production phase of the GRIFFON and JAGUAR engines.

Nexter, Arquus and Thales, members of the temporary grouping of companies EBMR (Engins Blindés Multi-Rôles), received confirmation on the 15 September from the DGA about the delivery of 42 JAGUAR and 271 GRIFFON engines for the years 2022 and 2023. Among the new features, this tranche includes the delivery of the first GRIFFON Artillery Observation Vehicles (VOA) and GRIFFON Sanitary (SAN), which will join the Troop Transport Vehicle (TTV) and Command Post Vehicle (CPV) versions.

The arrival of this new equipment, with the highest levels of protection and mobility, will provide users with new operational capabilities. Collaborative combat, for example, consists in connecting all the SCORPION program's info-enhanced vehicles in real time.

The firing start detectors, telemetry tools and the many sensors integrated on the GRIFFON and JAGUAR communicate together to contribute to the decision making of the vehicle commander. The JAGUAR's highly integrated and digitised turret and  innovative weapons, such as the CTA40 40 mm telescopic gun, the MMP medium-range missile and the Hornet remotely-operated turrets, considerably broaden their field of action.

These latest-generation vehicles benefit from the latest technologies and innovations in the land-based field.  Despite the events and constraints, the three companies have met their commitments, with 51 GRIFFON already delivered this year, joining the 92 GRIFFON delivered in 2019.

Nexter, Arquus and Thales have made the necessary investments in the development and industrial qualification of the vehicles, and  are continuing to recruit engineers specialised in digital technologies. By placing this order, the DGA also guarantees the continuity of production for many of the program's suppliers.

The production of the GRIFFON and JAGUAR will generate nearly 2,000 highly qualified jobs each year, for three years.