Four years have passed since the 2018 edition, Le salon du renouveau opens as the European continent finds itself facing a new strategic situation.
The show gave pride of place to French companies and institutions. On the stand of the Ministry of the Armed Forces were exhibited the main Scorpion equipment: Griffon, Serval and Jaguar.
Tactical vehicles
Arquus, born from the merger of Panhard, ACMAT,
Renault truck defense, Volvo), is a leading French company in land mobility
solutions. The company participates in the SCROPION program and offers a whole
range of vehicles. It also participates in the industrial support of nearly
20,000 army vehicles. ARQUUS also offers remotely operated cupolas (Hornet
range, developed as part of the Scorpion program),
Scarabée
The Scarabée is the Arquus project for the VBAE (Véhicule Blindé d’Aide à l’Engagement, Armored Vehicle for Engagement Support) program which aims at renewing the French Army’s VBLs, as well as supplying partner European armies with light Armor capabilities.
The recent combat experience has shown that anti-tank combat capabilities are key in a highly contested, highly intense battlefield. The large number of armored targets, and the rhythm of combat operations call for the integration of multiple anti-tank weapons on armored vehicles, to allow for tank-hunting and collaborative combat capabilities, or to provide with self-defense options in case of an unplanned encounter with enemy assets. Beetle as Arquus’ new generation reconnaissance vehicle is fitted with the Hornet AKERON and can be used as a stealth tank killer with its high mobility, silent propulsion, and compact silhouette
The anti-tank Scarab will be able to scout while in
movement and to shoot from inside the vehicle with the Hornet AKERON or from
outside the vehicle with an AKERON firing station. It will load up to 5
missiles depending on vehicle configuration. The Scarabée is also fitted with
brand-new cameras from Bertin, which grant it unique night vision & driving
capabilities. Paired with the fully electric mode which offers extremely silent
mobility and low thermal signature at low speed, these capabilities redefine
the Scarab as a vehicle very well adapted to night combat.
ARASTELLE presented at the Eurosatory exhibition its
innovative concept of wired power supply for microdrones, integrated on the VAB
MK 3 armored vehicle. This innovative solution makes it possible to keep the
drone in flight as long as desired up to an altitude of 100m, reinforcing
surveillance and observation day and night. This solution is adapted to the
ANAFI USA microdrone from the French group PARROT, which already equips the
French armed forces.
Sherpa
A2M
Arquus, Thales and the Spanish company NTGS launched
the Sherpa A2M at Eurosatory 2022. The A2M aims to offer organic infantry
support capabilities, counter-battery solutions. The Sherpa A2M has the ability
to deploy very quickly, to fire with very high precision and to withdraw its
system before detection or an enemy response. The Sherpa A2M can carry 40
rounds of 120mm mortar in the rear and optionally additional rounds in the
cabin, depending on the user's needs. The tube has a range of up to 8.2 km with
standard rifled ammunition and up to 13 km with ammunition equipped with
propellant systems, which allows to improve the protection of soldiers on board
while limiting the risk of retaliation after engagement (Shoot & Scoot
ability). The Sherpa A2M is presented with a Hornet Lite remotely operated
cupola equipped with a 7.62 mm machine gun for close self-protection of the
vehicle.
CBRN Sherpa
Arquus and Saab present an Arquus Sherpa Light Scout
equipped with a Saab CBRN solution. Saab's CBRN Reconnaissance Vehicle Kit
(CRVK) is a cost-effective, modular, reversible, dual-purpose solution for
modifying a standard vehicle to support CBRN reconnaissance.
NEXTER
Nexter, a KNDS group company, is the French leader in
land defense and the 3rd European munitions supplier. The company presented a
very large number of vehicles outdoors, in common with KDNS.
You could also see a model of the RapidFire
anti-aircraft gun mounted on a CAESAR Mk II chassis. The French Minister of the
Armed Forces has asked the Nexter group to increase production rates in order
to be able to produce them much more quickly for the French army. Several
export orders must also be honored.
The versatile TITUS 6x6 armored vehicle was on
display, also equipped with the remotely operated 30mm ARX 30 turret, it also
has the ability to launch land and air drones.
Nexter presented a Serval equipped with Mistral
missiles on an Atlas-RC (remotely piloted) turret from MBDA. It ensures
ground-to-air coverage of moving units. The project is still at an early stage
and the model envisaged would be to have one or two missiles ready to fire and
an internal reserve of six missiles A machine gun is coupled to the turret.
TECHNAMM
The vehicle processor based in Lambesc, near Marseille
presented the VOS-APP at Eurosatory 2022. This 6x6 vehicle is an evolution of
the VOS-PAT already delivered to the French special forces, and which carries
the MBDA MMP missile. The transition to 20 mm is made possible by the space
available on this 6X6. The Nexter SH20 cannon can be used against land and air
targets. Several dozen copies have been ordered to replace the special forces
VLRAs. An ambulance version is also planned. The COS units have already
received 65 VOS-PATs which are entirely satisfactory with the TF Saber in the
Sahel and Romania has ordered half a dozen of them. These vehicles all use the
same Toyota base, with parts readily available worldwide for routine
maintenance. The company also manufactures the MASSTECH T4 and RECAMP purchased
by the French army. Technamm has just won a contract for 16 Masstech Commando
4x4s for the special forces air brigade. This version will have a closed cabin
and a dumpster, with a circular armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun and several
7.62 mm.
Technamm has also pushed its idea of a buggy, the
Fennec, which uses a Suzuki Jimny base with an engine increased to 150
horsepower. Its latest evolution available at the end of the year carries an
anti-tank effector and could therefore constitute an agile vector for anti-tank
punches or partisan fights.
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SOFRAME
The Alsatian company SORAME was present at the show.
It had a lot of equipment but has an even wider offer.
It is the Soframe armored law enforcement vehicle
(VBMO) which has been selected to replace the VBRG of the gendarmerie and will
take the name of Centaure.
The VENPIR is a protected 4×4 rapid intervention
vehicle, specifically dedicated to special forces. Modular in design, it is
designed to be versatile, agile, fast, durable, efficient and provides great
mobility on all types of terrain.
The OUTFIELDER is a 4×4 intervention vehicle
specifically dedicated to special forces, in particular for intelligence and
infiltration operations. It has a 200 HP engine for a weight of 5.5 tons.
Arquus also presented, in collaboration with Soframe, an 8x8 truck, intended
for the French army.
Battle tanks
There were several heavy tanks on display this year,
proof of the interest of the armed forces for this type of equipment.
KNDS presented the EMBT (Enhanced Main Battle Tank)
demonstrator. It has evolved for several years and now has a completely
redesigned turret, equipped with the new ARX30 remotely operated turret
(30mmx113 gun). On the perimeter of the turret and the cockpit, there are a set
of cameras and driving aid sensors. propulsion is provided by an MTU 883
engine, the same as on the Emirati Leclerc tanks. The crew consists of four
members with a system operator, whose mission is to manage the various vehicle
systems: drones, deployed sensors, remotely operated cupolas, self-protection
and electronic warfare systems, etc. In addition to the classic Galix decoy
launchers, from Lacroix Défense, there is now a Trophy hard-kill protection
system from the Israeli Rafael.
Kdns also presented the Leopard 2A7A1 tank. One
feature that sets it apart from other A7s is the Trophy active protection
system. 7 pieces plus a prototype - was ordered in 2021 for the Bundeswehr.
The renovated Leclerc tank, The main objective of the
Leclerc RMV program (mid-life renovation) is protection and integration with
Scorpion. Reactive armor elements are added on the sides and front, combined
with "cage" armor on the rear and turret neck, floor reinforcement
and the integration of the BARAGE anti-IED jammer. These bricks, as well as the
new T2B remotely operated turret supplied by FN Herstal and originally mainly
focused on combat in urban areas. L
Rheinmetall unveiled at this show a new generation
heavy tank, the KF51 Panther, developed in all discretion. It is distinguished
by a 130 mm gun offering “superior firepower The 59-ton vehicle incorporates
many innovations, including an integrated drone reconnaissance system.
In order to give combat tanks the means to deal with
the latest generation armored threats, including the Russian T14 Armata tanks,
Nexter Arrowtech has developed the 120mm SHARD arrow shell. The 120mm SHARD®
(Solution for Hardened Armor Defeat) is Nexter’s newest generation of high
velocity APFSDS round.
Next to the vehicles, one could observe the 140 mm
ASCALON gun project. This is intended to deal with the latest generation heavy
threats while making it possible to anticipate the threats of the next
half-century”. He uses “his long experience of the 120 mm smoothbore gun of the
Leclerc tank, his mastery of ammunition. it should be noted that within the
framework of the MGCS project, the German industrialists who advocate the
evolution from 120 mm to 130 mm. The 140mm gun would have been tested in May on
the firing range of Alcochete, in Portugal. Two ammunition have been developed,
an arrow shell and an NLOS smart ammunition for firing beyond direct sight with
a range of 8 to 15 km.
Artillery
Nexter exhibited its 105 mm LG 1 gun, eight of which
have just been delivered to the Senegalese Armed Forces. Very light, it is in
service in 6 foreign armies. Weighing 1650 kg, it is easily transportable,
including by helicopter. It has a rate of fire of 12 rounds per minute and a
range of 17km.
2022’s superstar was the CAESAR howitzer provided to
Ukraine to defend its territory form Russian aggression. The French and Latvian
governments have signed a letter of intent to acquire 18 CAESAR 6x6 MkII.
Lithuania will become the ninth buyer of this cutting-edge equipment recognized
throughout the world for its operational qualities.
KMW's RCH 155 was also present. It is a combination of
automated artillery firepower and protected wheeled mobility. A systematic
development of the PzH 2000, the RCH 155 is a lighter, more flexible and
long-range artillery weapon for all areas of use which provides a high level of
protection for the crew. It has a rate of fire of 9 rounds per minute and a
range ranging from 40 km for conventional shells to 54 km for VLAP shells.
BAE System presented its ARCHER 8x8. ARCHER is a fully
automated, self-propelled 155 mm howitzer Loading, laying and firing is handled
from inside the armored cabin,
offering full protection for the crew at all times.
With a firing range in excess of 50 km and 20 seconds, ARCHER carries 21
complete rounds, which can all be fired in 2.5 minutes, from fully automated
magazines. The complete system can be transported by aircraft such as the C17
and A400M “Atlas.”
MISSILES
MBDA has announced the birth of a "unique new
family of fifth-generation tactical combat missiles". This creation makes
it possible to rename the MMP and MHT missiles which on this occasion become
AKERON MP and AKERON LP.
Foreign participants
Germany
KMW presented its entire range including the 26 meter
LEGUAN bridgelayer, mounted on a Boxer wheeled armored vehicle.
Rheinmetall presents the new version of the Fuchs/Fox
wheeled armored transport vehicle as a high-roof demonstrator to an
international trade audience for the first time at the Eurosatory 2022.
Featuring a high roof, the new variant of this battle-tested 6x6 vehicle
enables a wide array of capabilities covering the full operational spectrum.
Designed for maximum mobility, the new high-roof version of the Fuchs/Fox can serve
in roles ranging from Command Post to armored ambulance. This version is on
show at Eurosatory 2022.
Belgium
Belgium was present with the Cockerill i-X, (“i” for
“interceptor” and “X” for “modular weapon system”). It is the first-ever
land-based interceptor and a revolutionary combat system for territorial
defense interception: engaging and defeating incoming threats before they reach
their objective. The vehicle is equipped with a thermal or thermal-electric
hybrid traction chain). It is lightweight and stealthy and features adaptive
camouflage
Czech
Republic
Czech military company Excalibur Army unveiled a
prototype of the new Morana self-propelled wheeled howitzer at the Eurosatory
2022 defense show in Paris.
Czech military company Excalibur Army unveiled a
prototype of the new Morana self-propelled wheeled howitzer at the Eurosatory
2022 defense show in Paris.
According to a press release from Excalibur Army, this
modern artillery system on Tatra Force 8×8 chassis has a 155 mm gun with a
barrel length of 52 calibers installed in an armored rotating turret. It is a
fully automated artillery system that is fully compliant with NATO standards
and can perform highly effective aimed fire due to modern electronic systems
and main gun performance.
Italy
IDV (IVECO Defense Vehicles) from Italy presents at
Eurosatory 2022, an international defense exhibition, its new Anaconda 4x4
Special Operation Forces vehicle which is based on the MUV Military Utility
Vehicle
Turkey
TULPAR Light Tank is the latest vehicle in the TULPAR
family of multi-purpose armored tracked vehicles developed by Turkish
manufacturer Otokar. The vehicle is mounted with a CMI Cockerill 3105 turret
integrating a 105mm high-pressure gun with autoloader and a
co-axial/pintle-mounted 7.62mm/12.7mm machine gun. The main gun can fire all
types of 105mm NATO ammunition and Falarick gun-launched anti-tank guided
missiles (GLATGM).
COBRA II - MRAP is a next generation MRAP vehicle
which units high level of survivability and mobility in a modular package.
BMC exhibited its wheeled and tracked armored vehicles
including the ALTUĞ 8x8 and the MRAP KIRPI with an ambulance version
