Despite a rush on the rise, the Eurosatory 2010, the grand Salon of the armaments and security edition closes its doors today with a taste of unfinished. In issue, the upcoming budget cuts which led the Directorate-General for armaments (DGA), to return indefinitely which should constitute the main announcement of the event: the concrete launch of Scorpion, the major program of modernization of the army. A key including, construction of almost 2,500 armoured by 2020: it comes to replace both the front vehicle armoured tanks AMX 10RC and Assegai and the famous VAB used for the transport of troops (project VBMR) used for reconnaissance missions and combat (project EBRC). In all, more than 5 billion euros.
Shift of the calendar
The first step of the program is to choose a great architect Scorpion. The winner of this first contract is not in doubt: the Thales-Nexter-Safran consortium triumphed over EADS and the C & S - Ineo tandem. But, fearful of having to save up to 4.8 billion, the defence chose to freeze the procedure, the time to see clearer about its future budgets. "It will not start the work of architecture as long as it is not known what will become Scorpion", justified Laurent Collet-Billon, Delegate General for armaments. The fact that this market does not exceed a few tens of millions, a joke from the 20 billion of contracts passed in 2009, does not alter the matter. It is needed to support those, and many among industrialists, who expect a shift of the calendar of Scorpion, whose first shipments are for the time scheduled for 2015. What does not prevented them from enjoying Eurosatory to move.
With a luxury of precautions - access to the hall was strictly controlled-, Nexter has thus lifted the veil on its XP2 demonstrator. Developed on own funds, with many advanced technology and in compliance with European rules on the environment, this armoured infantry was designed as a box ideas for the future VBMR or EBRC. The company chose to design only the driveline (engines, gearboxes, shafts...).
"It is an element differentiating for control of the total cost of the program," said a spokesman.
For its part, Renault Trucks had presented its concept CMA ("armoured multipurpose carrier") in the Salon Eurosatory 2008. This year, the subsidiary of Volvo added a version equipped with a turret and a canon of 40 mm, for the EBRC's Scorpion component. But the manufacturer especially unveiled this year a completely modernized VAB, christened "Mark 2", as a priority for the export. New Fund, new engine, enhanced protection: what interest the clients of the current VAB, which sold 1,000 best in the world. For Panhard, he has exhibited a mock-up of the Sphinx, a shielded with gun and missiles positioned to replace of AMX 10RC and Assegai.
Franco-German cooperation
The French are obviously not only in the running. Weakened in England to the American General Dynamics, BAE Systems focuses on Scorpion, with a clear approach. "The time of the long and costly developments is gone." "The solution is rather on products on adaptable shelving French needs," explains Per Samuelsson, responsible for the France. The British group imagine and the CV90, although only equipped with Caterpillar, could make the case for the future EBRC. Same interest in Rheinmetall, where it is open to the idea of a Franco-German industrial co-operation. "We are discussing with the three manufacturers of French armour," confirms Jacques Verdoux, one of its leaders, even if it's easier with Panhard, since the two companies are already collaborating he added.
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