EBRC Jaguar

EBRC Jaguar

Company type	Military vehicle
Industry	Defence
Founded	2009
Founder	KNDS France, Arquus, Thales (consortium)
Headquarters	France , France
Products	Armoured fighting vehicles

The Engin Blindé de Reconnaissance et de Combat Jaguar (EBRC Jaguar) is a six-wheeled armoured fighting vehicle developed through a partnership between KNDS France, Arquus, and Thales. It serves as a successor to three French reconnaissance and fire support platforms—the AMX-10 RC, ERC 90 Sagaie, and VAB HOT—and officially entered active service in 2022 following a development period spanning twelve years.

As a component of the French SCORPION initiative, the Jaguar is engineered for reconnaissance and combat roles within challenging settings such as urban warfare and mountain warfare. The French Army intends to procure 238 units by 2030, ultimately reaching a fleet size of 300 vehicles by 2035, which will equip seven armored cavalry regiments.

Background

The inception of the Jaguar dates back to 2009 when the French military outlined requirements for a medium cavalry vehicle, leading to the launch of the Engin blindé de reconnaissance et de combat (EBRC) program. This project emphasized operational agility, multifunctionality, protection, and firepower. Comprehensive evaluations conducted by the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) examined various configurations—wheeled versus tracked, 6×6 versus 8×8 drivetrains, and manned compared to remotely-operated turrets—while ensuring compatibility with the broader objectives of the SCORPION program aimed at modernizing medium-range armored forces.

A cooperative effort among the DGA, French Army, and a consortium comprising Nexter, Arquus, and Thales refined the design choices to a 6×6 platform equipped with a manned turret that integrates missile systems alongside remotely-controlled weapons. The Jaguar was predominantly developed from newly designed components rather than adapting existing vehicle chassis.

Unveiled in December 2014, the SCORPION program represents an investment of €5.1 billion (FY2017) intended to phase out aging vehicles such as the AMX-10 RC, ERC-90 Sagaie, and VAB HOT by introducing the EBRC Jaguar and VBMR Griffon, upgrading the Leclerc tank, and establishing a consolidated combat information network.

Initial acquisition plans projected procurement of 110 EBRC Jaguars and 780 multi-role VBMRs by 2025. Subsequent defense programming legislation expanded these figures to include 1,722 heavy VBMR Griffons, 522 light VBMR-L Servals, 248 EBRC Jaguars, and 200 upgraded Leclerc XLR tanks.

The Military Programming Law covering 2019-2025 further raised procurement targets to 1,872 VBMR Griffons, 978 VBMR-L Servals, and 300 EBRC Jaguars. Additionally, it called for upgrades of 200 Leclerc tanks and 18 DCL armored recovery vehicles by 2030. The overall program budget is estimated at €11 billion, with €2 billion earmarked specifically for Jaguars. Initial contracts were placed for batches of 20 vehicles in April 2017 and another 42 in September 2020. Delivery schedules experienced delays attributed to the vehicle’s advanced technological features.

The first delivery of twenty Jaguars occurred in December 2021 to the DGA; eighteen were allocated to the 1st African Chasseur Regiment (1er RCA) at Canjuers for training purposes. A further eighteen units arrived in 2022 to facilitate instruction across seven light cavalry regiments. The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) was designated as the first operational unit to receive Jaguars in May 2022, followed by other regiments including the RCIM, 1st Spahi Regiment, 4th Chasseur Regiment, 3rd Hussar Regiment, 1st Marine Infantry Regiment, and 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment.

In October 2018, Belgium committed €1.5 billion for acquiring 60 EBRC Jaguars alongside 382 VBMR Griffons to replace its existing fleet of Piranha IIIC armored personnel carriers and Dingo 2 infantry mobility vehicles. This contract also encompasses spare parts and secure communication systems, with deliveries scheduled from 2025 onward.

Design

The 2014 initial plan targeted acquisition expenses of €3 million per EBRC and €1 million per VBMR, capitalizing on cost reductions from bulk SCORPION vehicle procurement. To optimize costs and logistics, the consortium selected the VBMR Griffon to share approximately 70% of its components with the Jaguar. Common elements include suspension systems by Quiri, the Elips intercom from Elno, the PILAR V gunfire detection system by Metravib Defence, and vetronics. Despite integrating sophisticated technologies, the unit cost of the Jaguar escalated to around €6 million (FY2019), roughly doubling initial estimates.

Designed as an armoured reconnaissance platform, the Jaguar is tasked with short-range intelligence collection, combining mobility, stealth, protection, firepower, and both day and night observation capabilities. Its design resembles a tank’s structure but utilizes wheeled mobility with rear-wheel drive. Incorporating state-of-the-art powertrain components, sensors, vetronics, and weapon systems, it marks a significant technological advancement for cavalry units.

Mobility features include a seven-speed automatic transmission, independent running gear, rear-wheel steering, six-wheel drive, and maximum speeds of 90 km/h on paved roads and 70 km/h off-road. A 500-liter fuel capacity supports an operational range of approximately 800 kilometers. The adjustable suspension system allows for variable ground clearance to adapt to diverse terrain and improve concealment by lowering behind cover. Weighing 22 tonnes empty (25 tonnes combat-ready), it can be airlifted by an A400M aircraft with a 300 kg margin reserved for future upgrades.

Standard protection includes STANAG 4569 Level 4 armor capable of withstanding 14.5 mm armor-piercing rounds, artillery fragments, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and mines. Additional modular armor packages can be added for enhanced defense. The vehicle’s underbody is engineered to deflect blast forces outward. CBRN overpressure systems safeguard the crew in contaminated environments. Inside, climate control and amenities such as food warming facilities enhance crew comfort. The crew consists of three members: driver located in the front hull, gunner and commander positioned within the turret. The interior is spacious and modular with low-recoil firing mechanisms.

Sensors and situational awareness

Approximately twenty sensors installed on the Jaguar supply data to the SICS (SCORPION Combat Information System) developed by Atos-Bull and the CONTACT digital communication suite by Thales. SICS facilitates integrated combat networking while CONTACT provides real-time voice and data connections among vehicles. The TopAxyz inertial measurement unit delivers precise positioning and autonomous navigation capabilities even in GPS-denied environments. Thales-designed vetronics integrate navigation, protection, observation, and communication systems to manage data fusion for coordinated combat operations and threat responses.

Observation capabilities rely on Safran's PASEO electro-optical/infrared stabilized panoramic sights—also employed on heavier platforms such as Leclerc XLR tanks—installed separately for gunner (PASEO-T) and commander (PASEO-C). These sights enable independent target tracking alongside rapid turret alignment through a "rally" function. Detection ranges extend to 15.4 km for spotting and 4 km for target identification. The system comprises six sensors including high-definition cameras, multi-spectral thermal imagers operating in 3-5 μm and 8-12 μm bands, a laser rangefinder exceeding 7 km range, high-contrast imaging sectors, and automatic tracking features.

Supporting PASEO is Thales’ ANTARES optronics and laser warning system mounted at turret corners. It enhances close-range situational awareness and sniper detection up to rooftop levels. ANTARES provides color video during daylight and black-and-white video at night with a resolution of five million pixels. It detects laser designators or rangefinders with an accuracy of 1.5° and alerts crews to missile launches.

Five cameras positioned around the chassis offer comprehensive all-around vision. Redundant optics include direct optical channels for the gunner as well as panoramic sights for the commander to ensure operational continuity.

Mounted on the roof, the PILAR V acoustic detection system monitors small arms fire, mortars, rockets, or RPGs in real time with full 360° coverage. It filters out outgoing fire noise to minimize false alarms and uses triangulation combined with data from other vehicles via vetronics to pinpoint shooter locations. This information supports automated turret targeting recommendations.

Within the turret, the commander’s station is equipped with seven episcopes providing a full 360° field of view plus two touchscreen displays: one multi-function display that manages sensors, vehicle diagnostics, weapons control including remote machine gun operation; another interfaces with SICS for tactical data exchange. Additional controls include backup sight ocular lenses and firing authorization buttons.

The gunner’s station features two episcopes along with weapon safety mechanisms; a multi-function display presenting sensor feeds aids target engagement decisions such as burst size or ammunition type selection. An ocular lens connected to backup sights complements these functions while a joystick-like controller enables rapid turret rotation at speeds up to 60° per second alongside weapon operation controls.

The driver occupies a compartment at the front hull equipped with an armored motorized flap containing three episcopes that provide panoramic vision enhanced by integrated thermal imaging and light amplification sensors for nighttime driving. Driver controls include a centrally positioned steering wheel surrounded by three screens displaying mobility parameters, rearview camera images, diagnostics data, navigation info, climate control status, and lighting settings optimized for stealth operations.

Augmented reality episcopes project processed sensor information directly into crew members’ fields of view to expedite tactical decisions. Target markings from allied units are displayed across multiple episcopes used by commander, gunner, and driver through integration within the SICS network.

Protection suites incorporate laser alert detectors, missile launch warning systems, infrared jammers, anti-IED electronic countermeasures via Thales’ ECLIPSE software-defined jammer, as well as the GALIX smoke grenade system developed jointly with Nexter. GALIX rapidly deploys multispectral smoke clouds that obscure visual, laser, and infrared signatures upon threat detection; it also supports deployment of lethal or non-lethal payloads against hostile personnel.<ref>...</refs>

Planned upgrades include integration of the Diamant active protection system under the PROMETEUS initiative—a distributed hard-kill APS featuring radar sensors that detect incoming anti-tank projectiles to intercept them before impact.<refs/>

Maintenance procedures benefit from Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) installed on critical components enabling predictive maintenance analytics under the MCO-T 2025 framework. This approach minimizes downtime by forecasting repairs based on sensor data such as dynamic engine oil condition monitoring. Fault diagnosis is supported by Arquus’ SERUM diagnostic tool utilizing plug-in computers.<refs/>

The Jaguar accommodates fifteen modular kits including winches and supplementary sensors allowing configuration flexibility tailored to mission requirements.<refs/>

Armament

The main weapon system is a two-person stabilized 40CTAS turret developed by CTA International housing a compact 40 mm Cased Telescoped Cannon (40CTC). This cannon offers high elevation capability (+45°), enabling engagement of slow-moving aerial targets such as UAVs or aircraft. It fires up to 200 rounds per minute within an elevation range from -10° to +45°.<refs/>

Stabilization technology allows firing while moving through Gun Control Equipment (GCE) composed of motors, encoders, gyroscopes, and control units. The gunner has access to an ammunition loadout of 180 telescoped rounds (65 immediately ready), which includes practice rounds (GPR-KE-T & TP-T), Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot-Tracer (APFSDS-T), Point Detonating (GPR-PD-T), and Airburst munitions (GPR-AB-T). Effective engagement ranges reach up to 3 km for APFSDS-T rounds; other types are effective up to approximately 2.5 km. APFSDS-T penetrates over 140 mm Rolled Homogeneous Armor at distances around 1.5 km; programmable airburst rounds are suitable against entrenched troops or airborne threats.<refs/>

Complementing this armament is MBDA France’s Akeron MP medium-range missile providing anti-tank capability against heavily armored vehicles or fortified positions at distances up to 5 km. It supports beyond line-of-sight targeting modes including fire-and-forget; lock-on before launch; lock-on after launch allowing engagement without direct line-of-sight. Four missiles are carried: two ready-to-fire in a deployable pod on the turret’s right side; two stored within the turret neck compartment.<refs/>

Secondary armament consists of Arquus’ T3 Hornet S remote-operated weapon station equipped with an FN MAG 7.62 mm machine gun loaded with 550 ready rounds effective out to 800 meters. Unlike lighter Hornet variants fitted on Griffon or Serval vehicles, this model integrates PASEO sighting equipment mounted independently on a crown operable by either commander or gunner offering full azimuth and elevation control over both machine gun and autocannon platforms.<refs/>

All SCORPION family vehicles’ remote weapon stations contribute to shared combat intelligence through vetronics interconnected via SICS networks—facilitating rapid target handover between platforms such as Griffon spotting targets relayed instantly for Jaguar engagement.<refs/>

Visual orientation aids like rosettes displayed on multi-function screens help prevent crew disorientation during rapid turret maneuvers—representing a significant upgrade compared to legacy systems.<refs/>

Current operators

France (93 delivered from firm orders totaling 150; overall planned quantity

300)

Orders:

• 2017: Initial batch of 20 Jaguars ordered.
• 2020: Follow-up order comprising 42 units.
• 2022: Additional order for 88 vehicles.

Deliveries:

• 2021–2023: Sixty units delivered.
• 2024–2035: Remaining deliveries scheduled progressively toward total fleet size of 300.

Future operators

Belgium (60)

Order placed in 2018 following CaMo programme approval in 2017; deliveries anticipated between 2025 and 2030.

Luxembourg (38)

Intent declared May 2024; parliamentary approval received November 2024; deliveries planned starting in 2028.

In popular culture

Within the video game Battlefield 2042, the EBRC Jaguar is featured as the EBAA Wildcat, utilized by both American and Russian factions.<refs/>

External links

• Metravib Defence