Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie
Encyclopedia
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
. They joined active service in 2008, with 630 vehicles ordered up to 2010. Other countries like Spain 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).
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.
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.
The first unit to be equipped with the new infantry fighting vehicle
was the 35th Infantry Regiment in Belfort
.
Common features for both version include SIT (Système d’Information Terminal) communication equipment, combat identification equipment, and NBC detection and protection equipment.
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.
) 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.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Infantry fighting vehicle
Infantry fighting vehicle
An infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them...
designed to replace the AMX-10P
AMX-10P
The AMX-10P is a French infantry fighting vehicle. It was developed after 1965 to replace the AMX-VCI in French service, and the first prototypes were completed in 1968. It has NBC protection and amphibious capabilities, with hydro jets to swim in water...
. They joined active service in 2008, with 630 vehicles ordered up to 2010. Other countries like Spain 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
Leclerc
The AMX-56 Leclerc, commonly known as the Leclerc, is a main battle tank built by Nexter of France. It was named in honour of General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque who led the French element of the drive towards Paris while in command of the Free French 2nd Armoured Division in World War...
tank. The VBCI is also designed to be transportable by the Airbus A400M
Airbus A400M
The Airbus A400M, also known as the Atlas, is a multi-national four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It was designed by Airbus Military as a tactical airlifter with strategic capabilities. The aircraft's maiden flight, originally planned for 2008, took place on 11 December 2009 in...
, with an empty mass less than 18 tonnes (full load mass up to 28 tonnes).
History
In the early 90s, the FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
government started the VBM (Véhicule Blindé Modulaire — Modular Armoured Vehicle) as a replacement for its older IFVs. Soon, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the United Kingdom joined the project. However, in 1999, the programme came to a dead-end, and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan 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
MILAN
MILAN " is French and German for "kite bird") is a European anti-tank guided missile. Design of the MILAN started in 1962. It was ready for trials in 1971, and was accepted for service in 1972. It is a wire guided SACLOS missile, which means the sight of the launch unit has to be aimed at the...
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
Future Rapid Effect System
The Future Rapid Effect System is the British MOD programme to deliver a fleet of more than 4,000 armoured fighting vehicles for the British Army...
programme.
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.
The first unit to be equipped with the new infantry fighting vehicle
Infantry fighting vehicle
An infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them...
was the 35th Infantry Regiment in Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
.
Comparison with contemporary vehicles
| Patria AMV | Fahd 280-30 | BTR-3 BTR-3 The BTR-3 is an 8×8-wheeled armored personnel carrier was designed by Adcom Manufacturing from UAE in 2000/2001 and manufactured by KMDB in Ukraine. The most significant of exports was to the Myanmar Army which acquired 1,000 BTR-3Us, to be assembled in Myanmar... U |
VBCI Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie The Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie is a French Infantry fighting vehicle designed to replace the AMX-10P. They joined active service in 2008, with 630 vehicles ordered up to 2010... |
LAV-25 | Type-92 IFV WZ551 The WZ551 is a Chinese wheeled armored personnel carrier. It is actually consisted of two families of vehicles with official designations in the People's Liberation Army as Type 90 and Type 92. Roughly 600 WZ551s are in service with the PLA, where they are used by light mechanized infantry units... |
BTR-90 BTR-90 BTR-90 is an 8×8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier developed in Russia, designed in 1993 and first shown publicly in 1994. It is a larger version of the BTR-80 vehicle, fitted with a BMP-2 turret... |
VBM Freccia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin |  Finland |
 Egypt |
 Ukraine |
 Early Modern France |
 Canada |
 Mainland China |
 Russia |
 Italy |
| Weight | 16 MT (17.6 ST) | 12.5 MT (13.8 ST) | 16.4 MT (18.1 ST) | 26 MT (28.7 ST) | 12.8 MT (14.1 ST) | 12.5 MT (13.8 ST) | 20.9 MT (23 ST) | 26 MT (28.7 ST) |
| Primary armament | 12.7 mm (0.5 in) M2 Browning machine gun | 30 mm (1.2 in) 2A42 30 mm automatic cannon 2A42 The 30 mm automatic cannon 2A42, also known as the Shipunov 2A42, is a Soviet/Russian 30 mm automatic cannon. It is built by the Tulamashzavod Joint Stock Company.-Design:... automatic cannon |
30 mm (1.2 in) dual-feed cannon | 25 mm NATO dual-feed cannon | 25 mm NATO M242 chain gun M242 Bushmaster The M242 Bushmaster is a 25 mm chain-fed autocannon. It is used extensively by the US armed forces, as well as by NATO's and some other nations' forces in ground combat vehicles and watercraft... |
25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) Autocannon | 30 mm (1.2 in) 2A42 30 mm automatic cannon 2A42 The 30 mm automatic cannon 2A42, also known as the Shipunov 2A42, is a Soviet/Russian 30 mm automatic cannon. It is built by the Tulamashzavod Joint Stock Company.-Design:... automatic cannon |
25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) Oerlikon KBA |
| Secondary armament | - | 7.62 mm (0.3 in) FN MAG FN MAG The FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the... machine gun |
7.62 mm (0.3 in) coaxial machine gun | 7.62 mm (0.3 in) coaxial machine gun | 2 x 7.62 mm (0.3 in) M240 machine gun | 7.62 mm (0.3 in) coaxial machine gun | 7.62 mm (0.3 in) PKT machine gun grenade launcher |
7.62 mm (0.3 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 Spike (missile) Spike is a fourth generation man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile with tandem-charged HEAT warhead, developed and designed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and in service with a number of nations.... (200-4000 meters) |
| Road range | 800 km (497.1 mi) | 700 km (435 mi) | 600 km (372.8 mi) | 750 km (466 mi) | 660 km (410.1 mi) | 800 km (497.1 mi) | 800 km (497.1 mi) | 800 km (497.1 mi) |
| Maximum on-road speed | 100 km/h (62.1 mph) | 100 km/h (62.1 mph) | 85 km/h (52.8 mph) | 100 km/h (62.1 mph) | 100 km/h (62.1 mph) | 85 km/h (52.8 mph) | 100 km/h (62.1 mph) | 110 km/h (68.4 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 |
Versions
- VCI (infantry combat vehicle): Combat group of 9 men (+ crew), medium calibre Dragar type turret (25 mm), 7.62 mm machine gun.
- VPC (command post vehicle): 2 SIP stations with 7 users (+ crew), self-defence turret armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun.
Common features for both version include SIT (Système d’Information Terminal) communication equipment, combat identification equipment, and NBC detection and protection equipment.
C4ISR
The VBCI will be completely integrated in the French C4ISRC4ISTAR
In military usage, a number of abbreviations in the format C followed by additional letters are used, based on expanded versions of the abbreviation C2 - command and control.C2I stands for command, control, and intelligence....
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
Félin
FÉLIN is the name for the French infantry combat system of the 2000s....
system.
DRAGAR Turret
The DRAGAR Turret (GIAT INDUSTRIESGiat
Giat is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-Geography:The Chavanon flows southeastward through the south-western part of the commune.-References:*...
) 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.
See also
- BTR-90BTR-90BTR-90 is an 8×8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier developed in Russia, designed in 1993 and first shown publicly in 1994. It is a larger version of the BTR-80 vehicle, fitted with a BMP-2 turret...
- Boxer
- MOWAG PiranhaMowag PiranhaThe MOWAG Piranha is a family of armoured fighting vehicles designed by the Swiss MOWAG , corporation....
- Pandur 8X8 APCPandur 8X8 APCThe Pandur II 8x8 is an improved modular all-wheel-drive version of the Pandur 6x6 APC wheeled armoured vehicle. It was developed as a private venture by the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge and is currently in production for the Portuguese Armed Forces...
- Patria AMV
- Infantry mobility vehicleInfantry mobility vehicleAn infantry mobility vehicle is a wheeled armored personnel carrier serving as a military patrol, reconnaissance or security vehicle. Examples include the ATF Dingo, AMZ Dzik, AMZ Tur, Mungo ESK, and Bushmaster IMV...
- List of AFVs
- Pindad PanserPindad PanserThe Anoa is a 6x6 armoured personnel carrier developed by PT Pindad of Indonesia. The vehicle is named after the Anoa, which is a type of buffalo indigenous to Indonesia...
- VBM Freccia
- KTO RosomakKTO RosomakThe KTO Rosomak is 8x8 multi-role military vehicle produced by...
External links
- Janes Nexter chars-francais.net (numerous photographs, including the inside)
- VBCI Program Update