VBAE, more than a simple VBL successor

By Marc Chassillan

Operation Barkhane, Sahel region: 22 out of the 53 Killed In Action suffered by the French Army (41.5%) were caused by mines, IEDs and VBIEDs. Sadly, VBL crews represent by far the most numerous victims. While looking for a vehicle to replace in-service VBLs, the French Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), the French Government defence procurement and technology agency, went for an interim solution and signed a contract with Arquus for the VBL Ultima. Panhard delivered 1,600 VBL and VB2L to the French Army between 1990 and 2010. The VBL is used by independent recce squadrons, and is also fielded by tank regiments where three VBLs are the eyes and the ears of each Leclerc platoon. The option of a modernization programme was very quickly imposed with the double goal of dealing with obsolescence and giving the VBL superior capabilities. A mobility demonstrator was rolled out in 2016, quickly followed by prototypes. The new powerpack combines a 130 hp Peugeot DW20F diesel engine and a Daimler W5A580 automatic gearbox. This increase of 40 hp is just enough to offset the 1.7 tons mass increase due to higher payload and protection. The VBL Ultima is therefore capable of 5.2 tons. The increase in mass no longer allows the

armoured vehicle to retain its amphibious capacity. The old original Citroën braking circuit has been completely replaced by a modern system that meets safety standards, including ABS. Finally, the rear trailing arms are replaced by double wishbones intended to carry the additional weight. A large part of the additional payload capacity will be devoted to armoured protection against AP bullets and artillery shells fragments, mine blasts and IEDs. From 2019 to 2025, Arquus will deliver 800 VBL Ultima. The VBL was exported to Mexico, Greece, Portugal, Oman, Kuwait, Nigeria and many other African countries, who could express their interest in purchasing Ultima modernization kits, taking advantage of the existence of serial production that guarantees stable prices and the supply of parts.

To replace the VBL, the French Army staff has been working for nearly ten years on the VBAE (Véhicule Blindé d’Aide à l’Engagement or Armored Engagement Support Vehicle) and has defined the need for two versions, a fire support version with

The French Army is bringing 800 VBLs to the Ultima standard, Arquus promoting this upgrade programme to all VBL users around the world. © M. Chassillan.

The Soframe MOISAC concept consists in a family of three versions in order to cope with a wide range of missions. © Soframe. The VBL Ultima features among other improvements a new and more powerful engine and increased protection. © M. Chassillan.

The fire support version of the Soframe MOSAIC is equipped with a medium calibre remotely controlled weapon station. © Soframe.

a medium 25-30 mm calibre gun, and an intelligence gathering version equipped with optronic sensors and a self-defence RWS. The VBAE must also be able to carry four crews, MMP missiles and a firing unit. The French Ministry of Defence has given some guidelines concerning the acquisition strategy for the VBAE. European cooperation was mentioned, Italy, Belgium and the United Kingdom being cited. Being part of the Scorpion-based CAMO programme, Belgium is already interested in the project and the Belgian Army has a potential requirement for around 100 vehicles. The weight of the VBAE is the subject of great debate. Dreamers evoke a 7 tons platform while the most realistic guess is that nothing will be feasible at less than 10 tons due to the ballistic protection, the volume to be protected and the growth potential to be preserved. Four European manufacturers are ready to answer a call for tenders in 2022. The French Government recently decided to put the VBAE programme in the hands of the OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’ARmement, the joint armament cooperation organisation), showing its strong commitment in favour of European cooperation.

Soframe, a subsidiary of the Lohr group, has just won the Gendarmerie’s armoured vehicle programme. The Alsace-based company offers the MOSAIC concept (Mission Observation Surveillance Acquisition Investigation Combat). The MOSAIC can accommodate a crew of two to four personnel depending on the version. This crew can operate various combinations of weapons ranging from 7.62 to 30 mm, remotely operated or not. Internal accommodations are fitted out for carrying mini-drones, reconnaissance ground robots and other innovative systems for decades to come. MOSAIC will integrate common “Scorpion” equipment, i.e. the SICS Battle Management System, the Scorpion electronic core, CONTACT software radios, Barrage jammers, Thales through-armour Antares vision system or Metravib Defence Pilar gunshot detection. The bio-inspired architecture of the platform implements a very innovative patented solution for protection against mines and IEDs called “flues”, that channel the blast of explosions and dramatically reduces the acceleration suffered by the crew. The armoured body uses solutions combining very high hardness 600 Brinell steel and non-metallic materials. Soframe relies on the composite material technology developed by

For its MOSAIC Soframe adopted an innovative patented solution, the vehicle featuring «flues» that channel the blast dramatically reducing the acceleration suffered by on-board personnel. © Soframe.

Among potential VBAE contenders, Thales Hawkei is the only one already produced in series. © M. Chassillan.

Thales Hawkei can be adapted to various missions, fitted with RWS, rockets and sensors. © M. Chassillan.

its subsidiary Tenexium. This must provide the crew and sensitive systems with the level of protection expected for a combat vehicle. Soframe claims it can defeat 14.5 mm bullets in the frontal arc. The mobility solution has been designed to integrate a hybrid electric transmission without modification. It gives the vehicle the ability to run in silence for stealthy reconnaissance missions. The electrical machine, a derivative and militarised version of technologies developed by Lohr for public transportation systems, also ensures the electrical supply to the weapon system and can add its torque to that of the engine to generate instantaneous acceleration. Soframe states that MOSAIC can be remotely operated avoiding the crew to carry out missions in dangerous zones.

Some 1,100 Thales Hawkei have been ordered by the Australian Army, and Thales wants to take advantage of this mass production to promote it to other customers. The Hawkei weighs 10 tons in combat order with a 3 tons payload. Thales and the Belgian group FN Herstal teamed up to provide the Hawkei with significant firepower. A 12.7 mm RWS with FN Herstal M3 machine gun carries a pod of four TDA guided rockets. Laser-guided rockets are a very interesting and rather cheap solution for destroying soft skin or lightly armoured targets at longrange. The warhead is sufficient to neutralize fixed targets (entrenched positions, machine gun, mortar pits) or mobile targets such as technicals, the typical unarmoured pickups carrying a heavy machine gun or other types of weapon at the back. Thales is able to offer many options for this combat Hawkei. In particular, it can integrate some of the elements that the group provides for Scorpion, namely the Antares perimeter surveillance system, the Scorpion vetronics core or a tactical information system.

IDEX 2021 marked the official presentation of the Scarabee, and the beginning of its marketing by Arquus. © M. Chassillan.

By turning all the wheels in the same direction the Scarabee can move diagonally. © Arquus.

With a weight of 7-8 tons, the Scarabee developed by Arquus is inspired by the Panhard Crab unveiled in 2012. It is a very agile, fast, well protected 4x4 armoured vehicle which design favours stealth and compactness. From Crab it takes up the ideas of the crew citadel and the heavy RWS fitted with medium-calibre guns and missiles. The Scarabee can also roll sideways by turning all the wheels in the same direction. It is designed around two blocks, the armour aluminium alloy crew citadel where four personnel are seated, and the propulsion module at the rear that combines the powerpack and the axle. The front gear is mounted on a frame attached to the crew cell. The cell protects the crew against kinetic energy projectiles and the effects of mines and IEDs blast. The motorization benefits from the investment made on the VAB Electer demonstrator financed by the DGA. The Scarabee is powered by a hybrid powerpack allowing it to move silently and provides additional torque during acceleration phases. This type of technology opens the way to potential robotization of the vehicle. Electrical energy is stored in 12 kWh lithium-ion batteries. The Maserati Diesel engine with a displacement of 4 litres and 300 hp ensures a power-toweight ratio of over 40 hp/t. It is mated to an electric machine and an automatic gearbox in line as on the VAB Electer. Arquus has focused on the reliability and optimization of the 70 kW parallel hybrid chain, which allows the vehicle to run silently over 10 km at an average speed of 40 km/h. This highpower generation capacity can also be used to power lasers, microwave weapons, radars and other advanced detection sensors. Both axles can be steered, which reduces the

turning circle to 11 meters, an exceptional performance particularly appreciated in urban or mountainous areas. The suspension of the Scarabee is adjustable. In the low position, it reduces the silhouette and facilitates air transport and air drop. In the high position, it makes it easier to overcome obstacles. On the weapons side, the choice of powerful teleoperated armament opens the field of operational capabilities to raids,

Arquus is developing a versatile robotic trailer that can be used in different roles, becoming an autonomous vehicle when detached from the Scarabee. © M. Chassillan. The crew citadel of the Scarabee can accommodate three personnel with individual equipment. © M. Chassillan.

Since inception Arquus developed its Scarabee with a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system, leveraging the experience done on its VAB ELECTER demonstrator. © Arquus.

aggressive reconnaissance, interception of mobile hostiles and convoy escort. At Eurosatory 2018 the Scarabee was armed with a homemade Hornet T1 cupola carrying an ATK 30x113 mm cannon. But other options based on automatic cannons and missiles are possible. The Arquus Battlenet vetronics and the MMI by full colour screens allow to operate the armament from several crew stations. Arquus also invests in HUMS sensor technologies integrated into the main equipment to monitor wear, loads and operating times. This makes it possible to set up predictive maintenance tools that reduce MRO costs. Thanks to its armoured transparent blocks, the Scarabee provides the driver with a full 200° field of view. Two sliding side doors facilitate access to the vehicle. This makes it possible to drive with the door open and facilitate communication with the populace to grab HUMINT. Nevertheless, Arquus is rumoured to work on a more conventional door opening mechanism as an option. The Scarabee will be able to receive a perimeter vision device whose images will be displayed on three colour screens. It can be transported by air in a C130 Hercules, and an A400M can carry three vehicles. It can tow an innovative robotic trailer that can carry different payloads batteries to increase the autonomy of the armoured vehicle or power a weapon system, weapon system like NLOS missiles or power laser, refuelling, and finally reconnaissance and combat robot. Arquus does not intend to wait for the launch of the VBAE to market its Scarabee, whose commercial career was officially launched at IDEX 2021. The company offers the Scarabee in three versions: PATSAS (Patrol SAS) for special forces armed with an Arquus 12.7 mm Hornet RWS, armed reconnaissance with a 30 mm mount, and finally Security-CounterTerrorism and Urban Operation which carries three operators with a complete information situational awareness provided by Battlenet and a set of sensors. The Scarabee is capable of fulfilling any light cavalry mission. Arquus is aiming at the aging fleet of AML, Scorpion, Cascavel or Sagaie, which opens up significant commercial prospects.

Unveiled at the World Defense Show in Riyadh in March 2022, John Cockerill Defense Cockerill i-X is a 4x4 light armoured vehicle based on a rally chassis and fitted with a retractable turret. © P. Valpolini.

Although John Cockerill Defense (JCD) states that its new Cockerill i-X is not intended to meet the VBAE requirement, all observers have noted its resemblance to Scarabee. Revealed at the last World Defense Show (WDS) in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), the Cockerill i-X demonstrator is an innovative light vehicle inspired by the world of rally-raids such as the Paris-Dakar. JCD presents it as a “land interceptor”, light, robust, shaped for speed and intended to meet certain needs in the Middle East. The Cockerill i-X is built

The Cockerill i-X retractable remotely controlled weapon station is armed with a 30 mm low recoil or a 25 mm cannon. © P. Valpolini.

When the turret is retracted the 3.5 tonnes Cockerill i-X becomes a non-threatening vehicle. © P. Valpolini .

on a very light tubular frame that can carry a 600 kg retractable weapon system sized for 25 mm or 30 mm cannons fed by 120 ready-to-fire ammunition. JCD is also considering a “tank killer” version equipped with two to four ATGM missiles or seven readyto-fire rockets. The secondary armament is based on a 7.62 mm machine gun with 400 to 600 rounds or a 12.7 mm weapon with 400 rounds. The detection/recognition/identification capability is essentially based on a stabilized optronic Vigeo head from Safran Electronics & Defense installed on the roof, Safran being a long-standing partner of the Liège-based manufacturer. When it comes to survivability, the vehicle is intended to be “light” but it displays a STANAG 4569 Level 2 ballistic protection and Level 3 mine protection. JCD Cockerill i-X features very high mobility performances: a range of 600 km, including 30 km in “full electric” mode, a top speed on road of 200 km/h and 160 km/h on desert tracks, all thanks to a motorization of 750 hp potentially increased to 800 hp with hybrid input. JCD does not communicate on its partners in charge of the mobility solution. The Cockerill i-X is a rolling laboratory that will allow JCD to explore and demonstrate innovative solutions in the fields of stealth (adaptation of the thermal signature by heating panels, passive painting), and MMIs with the Smart Helmet, which allows its wearer to generate interactions through his senses (vision, voice, haptics, hearing). Everything should contribute to reducing the cognitive load of the operator, thanks to an intuitive interface. JCD is investing, with the help of the Walloon region, in the IRIS project, a tool for automatic threats detection but also for identification and monitoring, which can establish priorities and suggest an action to the gunner thanks to the added artificial intelligence.

With the war in Ukraine and new priorities given to investments in new generation systems, 2022 should be the kick-off year for the VBAE, which is seen by the French Army as a key enabler on the battlefield. A requirement of 1,400 vehicles in three variants is anticipated. As previously mentioned, the programme is opened to European cooperation through the OCCAR.