| VBCI | |
|---|---|
A VBCI during the Journées Nation Défense, 2005 |
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| Type | Infantry fighting vehicle |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| Wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | VCI: 25.6 t (normal combat load). VPC: 23.3 t (normal combat load). |
| Length | 7.6 m |
| Width | 2.98 m |
| Height | 3 m |
| Crew | 2 + 9-man combat team |
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| Armour | 14.5 mm API [1] |
| Main armament |
M811 25 mm x 137 mm NATO cannon |
| Secondary armament |
co-axial 7.62 mm NATO machine gun |
| Engine | Renault Diesel 550 hp (410 kW) |
| Suspension | Wheel |
| Operational range |
750 km |
| Speed | 100 km/h |
The Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie (VBCI, "Armoured vehicle for infantry combat") is a French Infantry fighting vehicle designed to replace the AMX-10P.[2] They joined active service in 2008, with 630 vehicles ordered up to 2010. Other countries like Spain [3] have shown interest in the VBCI.
The Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie is built on an aluminium hull which carries a modular THD steel and titanium armour, which can be replaced in the field. The 8x8 wheel combination is designed to make the VBCI more comfortable and less costly than a tracked vehicle, while giving it sufficient mobility to back the Leclerc tank. The VBCI is also designed to be transportable by the Airbus A400M, with an empty mass less than 18 tonnes (full load mass up to 28 tonnes).
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In the early 90s, the French government started the VBM (Véhicule Blindé Modulaire — Modular Armoured Vehicle) as a replacement for its older IFVs. Soon, Germany and the United Kingdom joined the project. However, in 1999, the programme came to a dead-end, and France decided to follow on its own.
On November 6, 2000, the French government ordered 700 vehicles and the programme was carried on. In 2003-2004, the programme reached some major milestones: The mobility/agility tests, the armour tests and the electronic systems tests were all successful. From 2004 to 2005, the first 5 prototypes (4 VCIs and 1 VPC) were tested in real conditions. These tests proved some crucial design mistakes on the DRAGAR turret, which had to be redesigned. The 2 years delay in the programme are consequences of this design flaw.
As the programme reaches completion, other versions are being studied. A mortar version and a vehicle using the MILAN Missile have been considered by the developer. Note that none of these versions are being developed as of now, but feasibility studies are being conducted. In June 2007, VBCI was being considered for the British FRES programme.[4]
As of 2010, 630 VBCIs have been ordered, at a total cost of €2.86 billion. The 200th VBCI was delivered to the French army on 23 June 2010.[5]
The first unit to be equipped with the new infantry fighting vehicle was the 35th Infantry Regiment in Belfort.[6]
| Patria AMV[7] | Fahd 280-30[8][9] | BTR-3U [10] | VBCI[11] | LAV-25[12] | Type-92 IFV[13] | BTR-90[12][14] | VBM Freccia[15] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Finland | Egypt | Ukraine | France | Canada | China | Russia | Italy |
| Weight | 16 t (18 short tons) | 12.5 t (13.8 short tons) | 16.4 t (18.1 short tons) | 26 t (29 short tons) | 12.8 t (14.1 short tons) | 12.5 t (13.8 short tons) | 20.9 t (23.0 short tons) | 26 t (29 short tons) |
| Primary armament | 12.7 mm (0.50 in) M2 Browning machine gun | 30 mm (1.2 in) 2A42 automatic cannon | 30 mm (1.2 in) dual-feed cannon | 25 mm NATO dual-feed cannon | 25 mm NATO M242 chain gun | 25 mm (0.98 in) Autocannon | 30 mm (1.2 in) 2A42 automatic cannon | 25 mm (0.98 in) Oerlikon KBA |
| Secondary armament | - | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) FN MAG machine gun | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) coaxial machine gun | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) coaxial machine gun | 2 x 7.62 mm (0.300 in) M240 machine gun | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) coaxial machine gun | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) PKT machine gun grenade launcher |
7.62 mm (0.300 in) coaxial machine gun |
| Missile armament (Range) | - | AT-5 Spandrel (70-4,000 meters) | AT-5 Spandrel (70-4,000 meters) | - | - | - | AT-5 Spandrel (70-4,000 meters) | Spike LR (200-4000 meters) |
| Road range | 800 km (500 mi) | 700 km (430 mi) | 600 km (370 mi) | 750 km (470 mi) | 660 km (410 mi) | 800 km (500 mi) | 800 km (500 mi) | 800 km (500 mi) |
| Maximum on-road speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 85 km/h (53 mph) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 85 km/h (53 mph) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 110 km/h (68 mph) |
| Maximum capacity | 2 crew + 9 passengers | 3 crew + 7 passengers | 3 crew + 6 passengers | 2 crew + 9 passengers | 3 crew + 6 passengers | 3 crew + 9 passengers | 3 crew + 9 passengers | 3 crew + 8 passengers |
Common features for both version include SIT (Système d’Information Terminal) communication equipment, combat identification equipment, and NBC detection and protection equipment.
The VBCI will be completely integrated in the French C4ISR capability. The VCI version will use the SIT (Système d’Information Terminal — The lowest level of C4IST in the French forces), while the VPC will use the SIR (Système d’Information Régimentaire — A higher level in the same system).
The vehicle will be designed to primarily carry soldiers equipped with the FÉLIN system.
The DRAGAR Turret (GIAT INDUSTRIES) is a single seat modular design turret integrating a 25 mm stabilized gun. Fire control integrates a laser telemeter and a thermal camera. The rate of fire is up to 400 rounds/min, and the turret allows anti-air self-defence. It also includes a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun for close defence and a Galix grenade launching system.
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