22 juin 2022

Ma visite à Eurosatory 2022

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 27th edition of the Eurosatory land and air-land defense and security exhibition took place from June 13 to 17, 2022 at the Villepinte exhibition center in the north of Paris. More than 1,700 exhibitors from 62 countries set up their stands on the 81,300 m² mobilized at the exhibition centre. The 2022 edition was well attended, as NATO countries rearm in the context of the war in Ukraine.

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.

 


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