VBMR Griffon

VBMR Griffon

Company type	Military vehicle
Industry	Defence
Predecessor	Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (VAB)
Founded	2019
Headquarters	France
Products	Armoured personnel carrier
Parent	KNDS France, Arquus, Thales

The Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle Griffon (VBMR Griffon) is a six-wheeled French armoured personnel carrier designed for multiple roles, developed and manufactured by KNDS France, Arquus, and Thales. Introduced into service in 2019, it replaces the Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (VAB) alongside the four-wheel VBMR-L Serval, which KNDS France and Texelis co-developed.

Within the framework of the French SCORPION initiative, the Griffon fulfills a variety of operational functions through numerous variants and subvariants. A prominent example is the Griffon MEPAC, equipped with a 120 mm mortar system. Furthermore, two air defense variants based on the Serval platform—the Serval LAD for countering UAV threats and the Serval Mistral (also known as Serval TCP) for very short-range air defense (V/SHORAD)—were under development as of 2023.

The French Army intends to procure by 2035 approximately 1,818 VBMR Griffons, 2,038 VBMR-L Servals, 54 Griffon MEPAC units, and a minimum of 85 Serval LAD and Mistral/TCP vehicles.

Background

Since the early 2000s, the French Army has aimed to phase out the VAB, which had been in use since 1979 but became increasingly unsuitable for contemporary combat scenarios. After delays in modernizing the Armoured Cavalry Arm, the 2013 Defense White Paper recommended acquiring 2,080 multi-role armoured vehicles (comprising 1,958 heavy VBMR and 122 lightweight VBMR) along with 248 armoured reconnaissance and combat vehicles (EBRC). In 2014, responsibility for design was assigned to a consortium formed by Nexter, Arquus, and Thales, who had been collaborating on a joint technical solution since 2010.

The next-generation armoured vehicles programme, called SCORPION (Synergie du COntact Renforcée par la Polyvalence et l'InfovalorisatiON), was officially initiated in December 2014. The initial phase, budgeted at €5.1 billion (FY2017), involved replacing the VAB with the VBMR Griffon, substituting the AMX-10 RC, ERC-90 Sagaie, and VAB HOT with the EBRC Jaguar, upgrading the Leclerc tank to the Leclerc XLR standard, and creating an integrated combat information system. This phase aimed to acquire 780 VBMR and 110 EBRC vehicles by 2025.

Later stages sought to meet objectives set by the 2014-2019 Military Programming Law, revised in 2016: specifically, procuring 1,722 heavy VBMR Griffon, 522 lightweight VBMR-L Serval, 248 EBRC Jaguar, and upgrading 200 Leclerc tanks to XLR standard. The initial batch of orders comprised 319 Griffon and 20 Jaguar units placed in April 2017.

The LPM for 2019-2025 increased procurement goals to include 1,872 VBMR Griffon, 978 VBMR-L Serval, and 300 EBRC Jaguar vehicles, along with modernization of 200 Leclerc tanks and 18 DCL armoured recovery vehicles to XLR standards. Deliveries are planned through to 2030 with an estimated total expenditure of €11 billion.

In October 2018, Belgium committed €1.5 billion towards acquiring 60 EBRC Jaguar and 382 VBMR Griffon vehicles to replace its existing fleet of Piranha IIIC armoured personnel carriers and Dingo 2 infantry mobility vehicles. The contract includes spare parts and secure communication systems, with deliveries expected to begin in 2025.

Design

The 2014 initial program aimed to achieve acquisition costs of €1 million per VBMR and €3 million for each EBRC, capitalizing on cost efficiencies from large-scale SCORPION vehicle production. To minimize expenses related to development, manufacturing, and upkeep, the Griffon shares approximately 70% of its components with the Jaguar. Common elements include the suspension system from Quiri, the Elips intercom produced by Elno, the roof-installed PILAR V acoustic gunfire detection system supplied by Metravib Defence, as well as vetronics. Featuring advanced technological systems, the unit cost of the Jaguar increased to roughly €6 million per vehicle (FY2019), while the Griffon averaged €1.5 million (FY2017), which is 50% above its original target.

Originating from Renault Trucks Defense's BMX 01 prototype, the Griffon is a six-wheeled, 25-tonne armored vehicle equipped with four-wheel steering and a front-positioned powertrain. It accommodates a combat group of ten soldiers, including a driver and gunner. The crew compartment is fitted with armored windows and access ramps, while roof hatches provide entry points for troops along with enhanced situational awareness. Powered by a militarized Renault-Volvo diesel engine delivering 400 hp, it can reach speeds up to 90 km/h and has an operational range of 800 km. The engine is mounted on rails to facilitate maintenance and supports various fuel types to enable deployment worldwide. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with climate control systems including air conditioning and heating, as well as an overpressure system for protection against CBRN threats. Its mobility features include the ability to ford water up to 1.2 meters deep and traverse ditches measuring up to 1 meter.

The Griffon provides STANAG 4569 Level 4 armor defense against threats such as 14.5 mm armor-piercing rounds, artillery shrapnel, improvised explosive devices, and mines, offering significantly improved protection for personnel compared to the older VAB model. Modular armor kits are available to further enhance protection levels. French GTIAs deploy with two or three infantry companies equipped with Griffon vehicles alongside a cavalry squadron operating Jaguars. Typically, infantry companies comprise command variants (Griffon EPC), maintenance units (Griffon ELI), medical evacuation vehicles (Griffon SAN), infantry sections (Griffon VTT Félin), combat engineers (Griffon GEN), fire support platforms armed with mortars (Griffon MO81) or missiles (Griffon MMP), and sniper teams (Griffon STE). The fleet is supplemented by artillery observation vehicles (Griffon VOA) and additional support units.

The French defense procurement agency DGA officially certified the Griffon on June 24, 2019, with initial deliveries commencing on July 4, 2019. By the end of 2021, a total of 339 units had been delivered to the French Army; the first operational deployments were showcased during the 2019 Bastille Day Parade. According to the Military Programming Law, plans call for acquiring 1,437 Griffons by 2030 and increasing this number to 1,818 by 2035, which includes 54 mortar-equipped variants known as Griffon MEPACs.

Sensors and situational awareness

Data from sensors is integrated into the SCORPION combat information system through the SICS platform developed by Atos-Bull and the CONTACT software-defined radio created by Thales. SICS enables connectivity among combined arms units, while CONTACT facilitates real-time voice and data exchanges between vehicles. The vetronics architecture standard across all SCORPION vehicles merges navigation, protection, surveillance, and communication functions to support coordinated combat operations. Safran's Epsilon 10 inertial navigation system ensures accurate positioning even when GNSS signals are unavailable.

Countermeasure systems encompass laser alert detectors, missile launch sensors, gunfire detection devices, infrared jammers, and anti-IED electronic countermeasures. Future enhancements include integrating Thales' ECLIPSE smart jammer that disrupts hostile signals associated with IED/RCIED threats without affecting friendly communications, along with the ANTARES optronics suite providing continuous 360° day-and-night situational awareness coupled with laser warning capabilities. ANTARES can identify armored vehicles at distances up to 500 meters, detect drones within 250 meters, recognize personnel at 150 meters, and alert crews regarding laser targeting or missile launches. The roof-mounted PILAR V system locates incoming small arms fire or RPG attacks within a narrow angular margin; triangulation among multiple vehicles enables swift threat identification and automatic turret engagement.

Active protection solutions are being developed under the PROMETEUS program that combines passive armor enhancements with reactive and active defense mechanisms. Thales' Diamant active protection system employs radar sensors alongside effector modules to detect and neutralize anti-tank threats before impact.

The Griffon's design supports predictive maintenance through Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) sensors installed on critical components such as suspension and braking systems. By analyzing this data, potential failures can be anticipated to optimize maintenance schedules in line with the MCO-T 2025 initiative. The integration of HUMS is facilitated by Arquus' SERUM diagnostic software that allows fault detection via onboard computer interfaces.

Armament

The Griffon, in its baseline VTT Félin setup, is equipped with an Arquus gyro-stabilized T1 Hornet remote-controlled weapon station that can be fitted with either a 12.7 mm or 7.62 mm machine gun, or alternatively a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. The ammunition load varies depending on the selected armament. The turret also incorporates an autonomous GALIX countermeasure system featuring eight smoke grenade launchers connected to ANTARES laser warning sensors. This setup enables the rapid automatic release of multispectral smoke screens that obscure visual, laser, and infrared detection to hinder enemy targeting efforts.

The Hornet turret provides a full 360° rotation capability with an elevation range from -20° to +60°, controlled via joystick and HD touchscreen interfaces inside the vehicle. Its fire-control suite includes Safran's MINEO sighting system, which integrates thermal imaging, laser rangefinding, and daylight cameras to improve target detection and engagement accuracy.

Fire support variants carry primary weapons such as Akeron MP missiles or the MEPAC mortar system but maintain secondary turrets resembling the standard T2 Hornet Lite configuration armed with machine guns and GALIX countermeasures.

All SCORPION program turrets play a role in intelligence collection by interfacing with vetronics systems linked through SICS, facilitating real-time tactical data exchange among vehicles. This networked approach allows for coordinated target engagement regardless of which vehicle initially identifies threats.

Variants of the Griffon and their design

To optimize development, production, and upkeep expenses, the French Army adopted a semi-modular architecture featuring a common front section extending to the intermediate bulkhead combined with interchangeable rear modules tailored to specific missions. This modularity enables configurations such as the Griffon MMP to be transformed into troop carriers simply by exchanging rear sections. Six principal variants fulfill distinct operational roles: VTT troop transport; EPC command post; VOA artillery observation; SAN medical evacuation; MEPAC mortar carrier; and NRBC CBRN defense vehicles. Modularity also applies to turret installations and armor packages adjusted according to mission demands.

• VTT: Armoured personnel carrier
  • Félin: Infantry carrier
  • MMP: Medium-range missile platform
  • STE: Sniper section carrier
  • MO81: Dismounted mortar carrier
  • GEN: Combat engineering vehicle
  • ELI: Mobile maintenance workshop
  • RAV: Refuelling vehicle
• EPC: Command post vehicle
• VOA: Artillery observation vehicle
• SAN: Medical evacuation vehicle
• NRBC: CBRN defense vehicle
• MEPAC: Mortar carrier

Griffon VTT

The main variant, with plans exceeding 1,000 units, is the VTT, which comprises seven subvariants: infantry carrier (Félin), sniper section (STE), missile platform (MMP), mortar carrier (MO81), combat engineering (GEN), mobile maintenance workshop (ELI), and refuelling (RAV).

Griffon EPC

Externally resembling the standard VTT Félin to reduce identification risk of critical assets, this variant features a roof-mounted T2 Hornet Lite turret armed with a 7.62 mm machine gun instead of the T1 model. The rear compartment is reconfigured as a command post capable of housing seven personnel and equipped with integrated communications systems supporting collaborative combat operations including vetronics connectivity. Enhanced air conditioning safeguards sensitive electronics under extreme temperature conditions. This variant was certified in November 2020, with deliveries planned for 333 units.

Griffon SAN

Engineered specifically for casualty evacuation and medical support,<ref> certified in September 2022,<ref> this variant incorporates medical modules capable of accommodating up to four stretcher-bound patients as well as additional seated casualties. It maintains the Griffon's core attributes, including its mobility, armament, protection, and communication capabilities. A total of 196 units are scheduled for delivery alongside other medical versions such as the Serval SAN.<ref><ref>

Griffon VOA

Achieving qualification in June 2023,<ref> this artillery observation model is equipped with Safran's PASEO Crystal sensor system mounted on a telescopic mast featuring inertial navigation based on HRG technology. It integrates laser rangefinding, pointing, and designation functionalities with both daytime TV channels and thermal imaging for night operations. This enables surveillance, fire direction, geolocation, and JTAC coordination.<ref><ref> Additionally, it carries Thales' MURIN ground surveillance radar deployable externally,<ref><ref> capable of detecting movements within a 24 km radius and up to 500 m altitude—identifying everything from vehicles to personnel involved in deploying IEDs or mines.<ref><ref> The program plans for 177 units to be delivered.<ref>

Griffon MEPAC

This mortar variant features an advanced Thales semi-automatic 120 mm mortar capable of firing up to ten rounds per minute at targets reaching distances of 13 km,<ref><ref> with new ammunition types extending effective range to 15 km while improving accuracy. Designed for swift deployment into firing position with automatically closing hatches,<ref> it operates with a reduced crew of four artillery specialists instead of the initially planned five—allowing additional space for extra ammunition storage. The mortar turntable provides full rotation and hydraulic elevation control between 40° and 85°. It is outfitted with computerized fire control integrated into ATLAS artillery networks while retaining manual firing options as backup,<ref><ref> and mounts a T2 Hornet Lite turret armed with a machine gun alongside GALIX countermeasure systems.<ref><ref> Delivery of 54 units is planned from late 2023 through 2027.<ref>

Griffon NRBC

As of 2021, this comprehensive CBRN countermeasure variant remains under development due to its complexity,<ref> with expectations for introduction post-2025.<ref> Approximately 25 units are planned to equip France’s 2nd Dragoon Regiment.<ref><ref>

Current operators

(1,872 units planned and delivered)

Although precise order details are classified, confirmation exists for 54 MEPAC variants.

Order breakdown:

• Tranche 1 (2017): 319 Griffon vehicles
• Tranche 2 (2020): 271 Griffon vehicles
• Tranche 3 (2022): 54 MEPAC variants
• Tranche 4 (2022): 302 Griffon vehicles

Delivery timeline:

• 2019: 92 vehicles delivered
• 2020: 128 vehicles delivered (cumulative total: 220)
• 2021: 119 vehicles delivered (cumulative total: 339)
• 2022: 113 vehicles delivered (cumulative total: 452)
• 2023: 123 vehicles delivered (cumulative total: 575)

Variants received by October 2023 include:

• 443 VTT
• 79 EPC
• 11 VOA

Future delivery plans:

• For 2024: target of delivering 138 units including eight MEPAC models (only one has been delivered so far)
• By end of 2025: cumulative total projected at 887 units
• By end of 2030: overall total expected to reach 1,437 units (with approximately 550 delivered between 2026 and 2030)
• By end of 2035: total planned at 1,872 units (including around 435 between 2031 and 2035)

Future operators

(406)

Purchase Details:

• In October 2018, 382 Griffon units were ordered as part of the CaMo initiative, with deployment anticipated between 2026 and 2031.
• The acquisition of 24 Griffon MEPAC vehicles received approval in June 2022 and was finalized with a contract in December 2023.

Delivery Timeline

• Deliveries are planned from 2025 through 2030, with operational service commencing in 2026.

Variants Ordered by the Belgian Army:

• 35 Griffon SAN units (medical evacuation configuration)

(16)

Luxembourg's legislature authorized the procurement in November 2024, comprising:

• 4 command vehicles designated for headquarters use
• 4 command vehicles distributed as 2 per multinational squadron
• 2 JTAC vehicles for artillery spotting roles
• 1 sharpshooter vehicle
• 5 vehicles dedicated to maintenance and logistics support