The consortium of Nexter, Thales and Renault Trucks is delivering to the modernizing French Army the Jaguar EBRC wheeled armored fighting vehicle. This vehicle shares up to 70% commonality of parts with another upcoming French Army entry, the Griffon VBMR ("Vehicule Blinde Multi-Roles"). As its designation suggests, the Griffon will be a 6x6 wheeled multi-mission-minded lightly-armored vehicle set to undertake a myriad of roles for the Army service. It is scheduled to be introduced in 2018 and has also been selected by the Belgian Army to replace its own collection of aging, Cold War-era wheeled fighting vehicles currently in service.
The Griffon features a crew of two that include the driver and a dedicated gunner. There is seating for up to eight in the passenger area which is protected from under-hull mines and IEDs as well as small arms fire and artillery spray. The vehicle's combat weight is nearly 25,000 kilograms and is powered by a diesel unit of 400 horsepower output. Road speeds reach 110 kmh and range is out to 800 kilometers. Drive power will be to all three axles in the 6x6 wheel arrangement. With its large road wheels, good output power and high ground clearance, the Griffon is set to have excellent cross-country performance.
Its arrangement is conventional with the engine seated in a frontal compartment. Slim headlamps are buried within the sleek design of the bow while the engine section sports a horizontally-slatted grille. Hinged automobile-style doors allow access to the driving cabin for the two operating crew and larger doors along the hull side and rear provide entry/exit for the passengers. Thick, bullet-resistant vision blocks are used throughout the design. Roof hatches will provide situational awareness as well as another entry/exit point for the crew/passengers.
Armament will be modest, generally a 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun situated at the hull roof line near the front of the truck. This can be supplanted by a 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL) as needed. Whatever the weapons fit, they will be installed within a Remote Weapon System (RWS) to allow for firing without exposing the crew to harm. An additional pintle-mounted 7.62mm machine gun can be fitted to an over-hull-rear position. Smoke grenade dischargers will be used to self-screen the vehicle during combat - six are installed at the RWS.
Other variants in the Griffon product line (beyond the Armored Personnel Carrier form) include a dedicated Command Post (CP) vehicle, a battlefield ambulance for MEDEVAC and an artillery observation platform.
December 2020 - A further 157 Griffon vehicles are set to be delivered in 2021.
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Nexter Griffon VBMR 6x6 Wheeled Multirole Armored Vehicle.
1 x Diesel engine of unknown make and model developing 400 horsepower and driving a 6x6 wheeled configuration. Installed Power
68 mph 110 kph Road Speed
497 miles 800 km Range
Structure The physical qualities of the Nexter Griffon VBMR 6x6 Wheeled Multirole Armored Vehicle.
2 (MANNED) Crew
20.5 ft 6.25 meters O/A Length
8.2 ft 2.5 meters O/A Width
9.8 ft 3 meters O/A Height
55,116 lb 25,000 kg | 27.6 tons Weight
Armament & Ammunition Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Nexter Griffon VBMR (Vehicule Blinde Multi-Roles) 6x6 Wheeled Multirole Armored Vehicle.
1 x 12.7mm OR 7.62mm machine gun OR 1 x 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL) fitted to hull roof.
6 x Smoke grenade dischargers.
AMMUNITION: 550 x 12.7mm ammunition (estimated, if equipped).
1,200 x 7.62mm ammunition (estimated, if equipped).
320 x 40mm grenades (estimated, if equipped).
6 x Smoke grenades
Variants Notable series variants as part of the Nexter Griffon VBMR (Vehicule Blinde Multi-Roles) family line.
Griffon VBMR - Base Series Name.
Griffon APC - Armored Personnel Carrier form.
Griffon CP - Command Post vehicle.
Griffon MEDEVAC - Battlefield ambulance model.
Griffon ART - Artillery observation vehicle.
VBMR-L - Light-class 4x4 wheeled vehicle (becoming the SERVAL detailed elsewhere on this site).
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Nexter Griffon VBMR (Vehicule Blinde Multi-Roles). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.
Total Production: 100 Units Contractor(s): Nexter / Renault Trucks Defense (RTD) / Thales - France
[ Belgium (ordered); France ]
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Image from official Nexter marketing material.
Going Further... The Nexter Griffon VBMR (Vehicule Blinde Multi-Roles) 6x6 Wheeled Multirole Armored Vehicle appears in the following collections:
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