EBRC Jaguar

The EBRC Jaguar (French: Engin Blindé de Reconnaissance et de Combat; English: "Armored Reconnaissance and Combat Vehicle") is a French armored reconnaissance and combat vehicle that will replace the French Army's VCAC (HOT missiles equipped VABs), AMX 10 RC and ERC 90 Sagaie reconnaissance and fire support vehicles.

EBRC Jaguar
EBRC Jaguar at Les Invalides, 14 July 2020
TypeReconnaissance vehicle
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service2020 -
Used byFrance, Belgium
Production history
ManufacturerNexter, Thales, Arquus
Unit cost€1 million/vehicle
Produced2020 -
Specifications
Mass25 tonnes
Crew3 (Commander + Driver + Gunner)
Armour14.5 mm resistant
Main
armament
CTA CT40 40 mm cannon
Secondary
armament
7.62mm machine gun
MMP ATGM
Engine500 hp[1]
Suspension6 wheel drive
Operational
range
800 km (500 mi)[1]
Maximum speed 90 km/h (56 mph)[1]

History

According to the French Army's 2020 Defense White Paper it plans to retire its AMX 10 RC and ERC 90 Sagaie vehicles beginning in 2020, and replace them with up to 250 examples of a new armored reconnaissance vehicle. A consortium of Nexter, Thales, and Renault Trucks Defense was formed to develop and produce the new vehicle. The same consortium also builds the VBMR Griffon multi-role armored vehicle for the French Army, which shares 70% of its components with the EBRC Jaguar.

On 6 December 2014, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that deliveries will commence in 2020 and a first tranche of 20 Jaguars and 319 Griffons was ordered in April 2017.[2][3] A second tranche for 271 Griffons and 42 Jaguars was ordered on 24 September 2020.[4][5] In total the French Army plans to buy 1,872 Griffons and 300 Jaguars.[4]

Belgium

On 22 June 2017, the Belgian cabinet approved a plan to purchase 60 Jaguars and 417 Griffons for a cost of €1.1 billion. These vehicles will replace the Belgian Army's Piranha IIIC armored personnel carriers, Pandur I reconnaissance vehicles and Dingo 2 infantry mobility vehicles. The deal includes spare parts and secure communications equipment and deliveries are planned to commence in 2025.[6]

Design

The consortium building the "Griffon" and "Jaguar" is contractually obliged to keep the price per Jaguar under €1 million, therefore the vehicles are based on a 6×6 commercial all-terrain truck chassis and use standard commercial truck engines. The engines have been adapted to use a wider range of fuel. The Jaguar has an overpressure system to maintain constant overpressure in the armored troop compartment to protect it against chemical, biological and radiological threats. For service in hot climates the Jaguar is equipped with air conditioning.

The vehicle is built with STANAG 4569 Level 4 armor protection, giving it defense against 14.5×114mm armor-piercing rounds, 155mm artillery shell splinters, and 10 kg (22 lb) mine blasts.[7] Electronic defenses include the Thales Group Barage active jamming device to counter IEDs, two sets of Antares missile warning alert systems, a TDA Armements active blocking system, and a roof-mounted Metravib Pilar V gunfire locator.[1]

The Jaguar's primary weapon, mounted in a two-man turret, is the CTA International CT40 cannon firing 40mm case telescoped ammunition with a rate of fire of 200 rounds per minute and a maximum effective range of 1,500 meters.[7] Two MMP anti-tank guided missiles are fitted to the turret launcher with two reloads stored inside.[1] It also carries a 7.62mm remote controlled machine gun mounted on top of the turret and eight smoke grenades. The Jaguar can lift its cannon 45° up, allowing it to fire on aerial targets.

References
  1. Jaguar strapped to the nines with sensors, weaponry and a paint job. Defense News. 8 June 2018
  2. "Le ministre de la Défense dévoile le GRIFFON et le JAGUAR". French Defense Ministry. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  3. "Scorpion : Commande des premiers véhicules blindés Griffon et Jaguar". French Defense Ministry. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  4. "France orders 313 more Griffon and Jaguar vehicles". Army Technology. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  5. "French forces to get new batch of Jaguar, Griffon armored vehicles". Defense News. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  6. "Belgium to Buy French Scorpion AFVs for €1.1bn". Defense Alert. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  7. French defense industry unveils first prototype of Jaguar 6x6 armored. Army Recognition. 16 May 2018.

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