Nexter Aravis
| Industry | Defense manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Aravis MRAP vehicle |
The Aravis is a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle engineered and produced by the French defense manufacturer Nexter. In April 2009, the Délégation Générale pour l'Armement placed an order for 15 units intended for the French Army, mainly to support engineer units through reconnaissance and escort missions. The initial deliveries commenced in January 2010.
Design
Built upon the durable Unimog U5000 platform, the Aravis offers an internal capacity of 9.5m3, with 8m3 fully protected by armor. Its adaptable architecture enables it to be outfitted for various functions such as patrol duties, medical evacuation, and command and control operations.
Protection
Designed to comply with full STANAG Level 4 requirements, the Aravis delivers high-level defense against mines, improvised explosive devices, 14.5mm armor-piercing rounds, and fragments from 155mm artillery shells. It incorporates a patented "Safepro" modular hull armor system along with a V-shaped hull that deflects blast forces. Tests have confirmed its ability to withstand detonations equivalent to of TNT at a specified distance.
Armament
The main weapon system of the Aravis is mounted within a remote weapon station. Depending on client specifications, armament options include a Selex 12.7mm machine gun or Nexter's ARX 20 remote weapon station equipped with a 20mm M621 cannon. The ARX 20 can also be integrated with the Pilar anti-sniper system.
Mobility
Capable of reaching speeds up to 100 km/h on paved surfaces, the Aravis demonstrates excellent mobility in both off-road and urban environments. It can traverse water obstacles up to one meter deep without prior preparation. The vehicle uses Michelin 365/80R 20 152 K tires featuring run-flat technology and a central tire inflation system, allowing air transport aboard aircraft comparable to or larger than a C-130 Hercules.
Operational history
Between 2010 and their withdrawal, the French Army deployed 11 Aravis vehicles in Afghanistan and sent six more to Mali starting in 2016 for use primarily in route clearance tasks during Operation Barkhane. Additionally, an Aravis was spotted operating in Syria amid the Deir ez-Zor campaign (September 2017–present).
During the 2019 Gabonese coup d'état attempt, Gabon's Republican Guard employed the Nexter Aravis to suppress insurgent forces.
Operators
- Albanian Land Force – conducted testing in 2012; acquisition numbers are not disclosed.
- French Army – operates a fleet of 15 vehicles identified as .
- Armed Forces of Gabon – placed an order for 12 units but received only eight due to financial limitations; these are armed with 20mm cannons mounted on remote weapon stations.
- Saudi Arabian Army – initially procured 73 vehicles equipped with 20mm cannons in 2011, followed by an additional order of 191 units in 2012. Although Germany blocked the total contract of 264 APCs intended for the Saudi Arabian National Guard, all units were delivered between 2013 and 2016.