It is left to be the surprise of the Franco-British summit on Friday, at least for the military aspect of the game: the French Army could pay twenty VBCIs, the latest infantry armored Nexter has its counterpart in the United Kingdom, according to our information.It would be for the troops of his gracious majesty to familiarize themselves with equipment which, they say, has not left indifferent during his trips to Afghanistan or Mali.Uh.
There five years, London has launched a great competition to renew its fleet of armored infantry transport. Piranha 5 U.S. General Dynmics had emerged victorious. The VBCIs tried his luck, but caught by the level of protection in particular. The program was canceled since, and armored Nexter has improved.
Paying twenty VBCIs (initially focused on discussions about sixty copies), Paris is dated in the event that the British revive an acquisition program, 2017 whichever discussed.Nexter is ensured without signing a contract obviously, because across the Channel, nothing gets done without a competitive basis.
If confirmed Friday the loan VBCIs have a significant symbolic meaning to the extent that the French test - for an acquisition - the Watchkeeper tactical UAV English. It would be a (small) step towards interoperability of the two armies, one of the objectives of the Treaty of Lancaster House, which provides the establishment of a joint expeditionary force by 2016.
Wow.
Google Translation again leaves alot to be desired but 20 VBCI's to be operated by UK forces? I don't quite get it. They already have a couple of programs going and they were on a "neck down" campaign to reduce the various numbers of vehicles in service (by that I mean various types).
If this is true then perhaps to their expeditionary forces but would that mean British Army or Marines? Maybe their Air Assault Brigade?
Either way the hits keep coming. Armor might be a bad word in US military circles but the rest of the world is doing some interesting things.
Say whatever you will about the French, but they have built a wonderfully effective, lightweight military that is perfect for the kind of small interventions they routinely do in the various hellholes of Africa. And all for a pittance of a budget. A lot of Western forces could do with learning a few lessons from these guys.
ReplyDeleteAs for the UK role for the VBCI, I would think the scout elements with the Armour Division or even the Royal Marines could make use of them. The Para's have traditionally stayed away from vehicles above 5 Ton class as the UK has traditionally lacked the means of moving such vehicles into and around a battlefield.
I couldn't find the French side of this info but I found the English article.
ReplyDeletehttp://news.sky.com/story/1204040/cameron-told-eu-treaty-revision-not-a-priority
" The discussion threatened to overshadow the Anglo-French summit in which the two countries also signed up to deeper cooperation between their civil nuclear and space industries.
Mr Cameron announced a two-year £120m feasibility study into a joint programme to build a new armed drone, and revealed the countries planned to work together on a £10m project for an unmanned counter-mine craft.
Donald Tusk Mr Cameron will also be meeting Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk later
Britain will offer more logistical support for the French military mission in the war-torn Central African Republic, and troops will hold a joint training exercise later in the year.
The UK will also try out the French VBCI tank with a view to possibly purchasing it for the Army.
Other agreements included the £500m joint purchase of anti-ship missiles, there will also be discussions on the possibility of a joint expeditionary force and about civil nuclear industries after a deal in which French giant EDF will build a new power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset. Mr Cameron wants British SME's to be involved in the industry's supply chain."
And the clock turns back to 1999 when France left the Joint Brit-German-French MRAV to build the VBCI, then the Germans left to build the Boxer and the Brits were stuck with the FRES until they found they couldn't afford it.
ReplyDeleteBrits loan weapons from frog eaters... this is end of the world I tell you, end of the world.
ReplyDeleteYou know what that tells you the frog eater!
DeleteEnglish and American wanted to buy the gun artillery Caesar but to prevent the BAE case.
The VBCIs was best placed in Canada and in many other countries.
The british army will trial VBCI ahead of the planned restart of FRES UV, the program for a 8x8 vehicle for the mechanized infantry battalions (which are just 3, in army 2020, and which in the meanwhile will be mounted on Mastiff and Ridgback vehicles purchased as UOR for Afghanistan but brought into core budget and retained). FRES UV won't restart before 2017 or 2018, with deliveries expected not before 2022.
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit like the US Army loaning italian Centauro 8x8 tank destroyers to experiment the concepts for the Stryker. Especially for the MGS.
Even experimenting with the Centauro, they did not get the MGS right, but that's another story...
VBCI might or might not be selected for FRES UV. But it is a capable, war-proven 8x8 with full digitalization with the FELIN future soldier system of the french army, so it is excellent for building up experience and writing a list of requirements.
The three mechanized infantry battalions are assigned to the 3 armoured infantry brigades of the british army, which specifically have: 1 MBT regiment, one recce/heavy cavalry regiment with FRES Scout (now Scimitar), 2 infantry battalions with Warrior IFV and 1 mechanized infantry battalion.
I wonder how many of these will fit in an A400M?
ReplyDeleteAccording to weight one VBCI (25.6 t) or one Boxer (25.2 t vehicle /33 t gross) would fit in an A400M.
DeleteBoxer comes with a neat feature: http://www.artec-boxer.com/index.php?id=modularity
Modules could be exchanged within 30 minutes: http://www.artec-boxer.com/index.php?id=variants