EBRC Jaguar
EBRC Jaguar, March 2022
TypeReconnaissance vehicle
Place of originFrance
Service history
In serviceFebruary 2022–present
Used byFrance
Belgium
Production history
ManufacturerNexter, Thales, Arquus
Unit cost€6 million (FY2019)[1]
€5 million (FY2022)[2]
Produced2020–present
Specifications
Mass25 tonnes
Crew3 (Commander + Driver + Gunner)
ArmourBallistics, anti-mine and improvised explosive device (IED)
Main
armament
CTA CT40 40 mm cannon
Secondary
armament
Akeron MP ATGMs
1 x 7.62mm machine gun
Engine370 kW (500 hp)[3]
Suspension6 wheel drive
Operational
range
800 km (500 mi)[3]
Maximum speed 90 km/h (56 mph)[3]

The Engin Blindé de Reconnaissance et de Combat Jaguar (English: Armoured Reconnaissance and Combat Vehicle Jaguar) or EBRC Jaguar is a French armoured reconnaissance vehicle that will replace the French Army's AMX-10 RC and ERC 90 Sagaie reconnaissance and fire support vehicles as well as the VAB Mephisto.

History

According to the French Army's 2020 Defence 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 armoured 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 armoured vehicle for the French Army, which shares 70% of its components with the EBRC Jaguar.

On 6 December 2014, French Defence 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.[4][5] A second tranche for 271 Griffons and 42 Jaguars was ordered on 24 September 2020.[6][7] In total the French Army plans to buy 1,872 Griffons and 300 Jaguars.[6]

Belgium

On 26 October 2018, Belgium's cabinet formalised the plan to purchase 60 "Jaguar" and 382 “Griffon” vehicles for €1.5 billion. The vehicles will replace the Belgian Army's Piranha IIIC armoured personnel carriers and Dingo 2 infantry mobility vehicles. The deal includes spare parts and secure communications equipment and deliveries are planned to commence in 2025.[8] Final assembly, including the conversion to the various specific variants and testing of the vehicles, will happen at a local contractor in Belgium.[9]

Design

It was originally intended for the consortium manufacturing the Griffon and Jaguar to keep the price per unit of the vehicles under €1 million; basing them on the same 6×6 commercial all-terrain truck chassis and the use of standard commercial truck engines were meant to facilitate this. The engines were to be adapted to use a wider range of fuel. The cost constraints were later scrapped however and both vehicles ended up costing more, with the EBRC Jaguar having a unit price of around €5 million (FY2022).[10]

The Jaguar has an overpressure system to maintain constant overpressure in the armoured 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 armour protection, giving it defence against 14.5×114mm armour-piercing rounds, 155mm artillery shell splinters, and 10 kg (22 lb) mine blasts.[11] Electronic defences include the Thales Group Barage active jamming device to counter IEDs, two sets of Antares missile warning alert systems, a TDA Armaments active blocking system, and a roof-mounted Metravib Pilar V gunfire locator.[3]

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.[11] Two Akeron MP anti-tank guided missiles are fitted to the turret launcher with two reloads stored inside.[3] It also carries a 7.62mm remote controlled machine gun mounted on top of the turret and fourteen smoke grenades. The Jaguar can elevate its cannon to 45°, allowing it to fire on some aerial targets.

Operators

In popular culture

The EBRC Jaguar is featured in the 2021 first-person shooter Battlefield 2042, where it is referred to as the EBAA Wildcat. In-game it is utilized by both the American and Russian factions.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Approbation de l'accord entre le Gouvernement de la République française et le Gouvernement du Royaume de Belgique relatif à leur coopération dans le domaine de la mobilité terrestre". 21 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Le Franc-Tireur Terre #1 (2022)" (PDF). p. 50. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e Jaguar strapped to the nines with sensors, weaponry and a paint job. Defense News. 8 June 2018
  4. ^ "Le ministre de la Défense dévoile le GRIFFON et le JAGUAR" (in French). Armée de Terre (French Army). 10 December 2014. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Scorpion: Commande des premiers véhicules blindés Griffon et Jaguar" (in French). French Defense Ministry. 27 June 2017. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020 – via Milinfo. Search archive page for "27 juin 2017" or "AMX".
  6. ^ a b "France orders 313 more Griffon and Jaguar vehicles". Army Technology. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  7. ^ "French forces to get new batch of Jaguar, Griffon armored vehicles". Defense News. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  8. ^ Fassot, Frédéric (26 October 2018). "LA BELGIQUE ACHÈTE 442 BLINDÉS AUX INDUSTRIELS FRANÇAIS". VIPress.net. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  9. ^ Verhaest, Philippe (13 May 2022). "Defensie schakelt West-Vlaanderen in: Mol Cy uit Staden mag 442 legervoertuigen leveren". Kw. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Le Franc-Tireur Terre #1 (2022)" (PDF). p. 50. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  11. ^ a b French defense industry unveils first prototype of Jaguar 6x6 armored. Army Recognition. 16 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Battlefield 2042 Vehicle List - Every Playable Vehicle | GameWatcher".

External links

Modern French armoured fighting vehicles
Modern wheeled infantry fighting vehicles and armoured personnel carriers
Modern wheeled reconnaissance vehicles
Vehicles of the French Army
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