February 17, 2013. David Pugliese -Defence Watch
The French Army has deployed the VBCI to Mali to take part in Operation Serval.
The wheeled armoured vehicles have already been used in Afghanistan, where they were well thought of because of their armour protection.
Nexter, the French defence company which builds the VBCI, points out that the vehicle is capable of speeds over 100 km per hour. The VBCI has a one man turret with a 25 mm NATO standard gun, a 7.62 co-axial machine gun and grenade launchers. With a range of 750 km, it can sustain an infantry section on operations for three days, the firm adds. Nexter has already delivered over 400 of a total of 630 vehicles ordered by the French Army.
As Defence Watch readers know, the VBCI is a contender in DND’s Close Combat Vehicle project. DND wants to buy 108 of the Close Combat Vehicles. There would be an option for the purchase of up to 30 additional vehicles. The army has argued that the Close Combat Vehicles, which would accompany its Leopard tanks into battle, are a priority for future missions.
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