Defense Technology International - June 2008 - (Page 50)

TRANSFORMATION THALES FORCE Asimov battleﬁeld simulation tool from Thales will play a major role in Scorpion. and NH Industries’ NH90 transport rotorcraft, will be integrated down to the battle group level, he adds. DGA-funded studies are looking into land robots, with French company ECA developing three modular, semi-autonomous platforms for urban warfare. “For Scorpion and its many individual projects, we will try to avoid redundancies between systems,” Perrin says. “We will endeavor, for example, not to end up with two non-line-of-sight, precision-engagement systems. We will likely pick either the upgraded Leclerc tank or the new EBRC vehicle.” Meanwhile, a range of new equipment is entering service, often following protracted development programs. Examples include the Tiger helicopter; NH90 tactical transport helicopter; Felin soldier-modernization kit from Sagem Defense Security; C4I systems from EADS, Sagem and Thales; and the PVP light armored vehicle from Panhard General Defense (DTI May, p. 17). Three mechanized infantry battalions will be equipped with Nexter Systems’ new VBCI 8X8 armored infantry vehicle by April 2011. Nexter, working with Renault Trucks Defense, received contracts from the French military for 172 VBCIs. A contract for another 118 vehicles is expected by the end of the year. The first command post variant, known as VPC, was ready for testing in One of the ﬁrst VBCI armored infantry ﬁghting vehicles awaits inspection at Nexter Systems on Apr. 17. 50 April. The second VPC, along with the leading infantry combat vehicle variants, or VCIs, were recently in the ﬁnal checkout room at Nexter’s main vehicle assembly plant in Roanne. French army operational trials with the new VBCI production version are taking place in Noyon, north of Paris, through July. VBCI training started in May in Canjuers, outside Nice, with a “Train the Trainers” course that runs through September. The ﬁrst frontline VBCI battalion will be the 35th infantry regiment in Belfort. The unit is scheduled to be in Canjuers for training from October to May 2009, and to conduct operational trials between November and June next year. The second VBCI unit is the 92nd infantry regiment in Clermont-Ferrand, which will train in Canjuers from September 2009 to April 2010. The third VBCI unit is the 152nd infantry regiment in Colmar, which will train with the vehicle between September 2010 and April 2011. The infantry-training center in Montpellier will also receive vehicles, in June 2009. VBCI driver and crew simulators are to be installed in Canjuers and Montpellier, and crew simulators will be placed with frontline battalions in Belfort, ClermontFerrand and Colmar. Nexter expects to build 700 VBCIs for the army (550 VCI models and 150 VPC versions) under a framework contract signed in 2000, with deliveries stretching out through 2014. Although the last of 355 Leclerc main battle tanks was delivered by Nexter in October 2007, the DGA is already planning a signiﬁcant MLU, aimed at improving their e ectiveness and survivability in urban warfare. Late last year Nexter received a first contract to bring the army’s entire Leclerc ﬂeet up to the latest standard, says Perrin. This involves installing Nexter’s Icone battleﬁeld management system in every tank, as well as making each capable of ﬁring the latest munitions, including a high-explosive round that is in development. The tanks now ﬁre only standard 120-mm. armorpiercing, kinetic-energy penetrators and shaped-charge-explosive rounds. DGA is considering other munitions, including the Polynege non-line-of-sight, precision-guided missile-type round proposed by Nexter Munitions. The laserguided weapon has an e ective range of 2.5-8 km. (1.5-5 mi.) and muzzle velocity of 700 meters/sec. when ﬁred by the tank’s 120-mm. gun at a 17-deg. elevation. The ﬁring of two demonstrators is planned this year, says Thierry Bredy, strategy director for Nexter Munitions. JORIS JANSSEN LOK/DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL JUNE 2008 AviationWeek.com/dti http://AviationWeek.com/dti

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Defense Technology International - June 2008

Defense Technology International - June 2008 Contents Around the World Science Watch Tech Watch Basic Black Self-Defense Fire-Resistant Perfezione Hyperspeed Trial Big Sky Cashing In Digital Links Hang Ten Sea Change Programs Update Two Steps Back Direct Hit Staying Power Potent Stinger Do No Harm Guard Duty The Net Cutting Edge First Person In Review Insight

Defense Technology International - June 2008

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