French Defense Procurement Agency Qualifies the 32 Tons VBCI Armored Vehicle

The French Procurement Agency (DGA) declared the qualification of the new version of the VBCI armoured infantry combat vehicle on September 24, 2014. This new version has a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 32 tons, as opposed to 29 tons for the original version. The increase in the GVW not only enables the vehicle to confront the toughest threats within Army theatres of operations with improved vehicle protection (increased protection against mines, IEDs, rockets, etc.) but also preserves the vehicle capability to be upgraded and enables it to adapt to future needs.

The qualification is the result of essential tests to guarantee the safety and performance of the vehicle. Thus, for 18 months, the 32 tons prototypes cleared the DGA's many obstacles and covered the special tracks in sandy Biscarosse, muddy Coëtquidan and Fontevraud, rocky Canjuers and snowy Valloire.

Nexter will deliver to the French armed forces this new version of the VBCI in its 32 tons configuration from 2015.

The VBCI has been projected in Afghanistan and Lebanon in 2010, in Mali in early 2013 and in Central African Republic in 2014, where each time it has perfectly fulfilled the missions assigned to it, to the satisfaction of the troops involved.

Source: The French Procurement Agency (DGA) qualifies the 32 tons VBCI

Resources

DGA - Délégation Générale pour l’Armement
GVW - Gross Vehicle Weight
IED - Improvised Explosive Device

Armies : VBCI VCI
Armies : VBCI VPC

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