The French General Directorate of Armaments (Direction générale de l’armement) notified the company UNAC on August 30, 2022 of the order of the last 180 Fardier vehicles out of the 300 provided for by the military programming law 2019-2025, and the last 100 trailers out of the 172 also planned. Worth a total of 44 million Euros, the contract for the flatbed trucks and their trailers also includes 10 years of support from the manufacturer. Intended for Army airborne troops and Special Forces, the Fardier is a small air-transportable, air-droppable and heliportable all-terrain transport vehicle. The first 2 Fardiers were delivered to the Army on April 19, 2022.
The Fardier makes it possible to deploy commandos quickly, to lighten the dismounted combatant in any zone, and to facilitate the self-defence of the deployment zones. The Fardier can be embarked on board a military transport plane (C130 Hercules and A400M Atlas), parachuted (from C130 Hercules and A400M Atlas) and transported by helicopter under sling (Caracal and NH90). Thanks to this vehicle, the commandos can be dropped or deposited at a safe distance and then move quickly with their equipment towards their objectives. Thus lightened, these fighters who carry around 50kg on their backs, gain in agility and increase their range of action.
They will be used during MANTICORE, a joint exercise with the Land Special Forces Command, the 11th Parachute Brigade and the 4th Aerocombat Brigade, which takes place from September 16 to October 7. Eight Fardiers are scheduled to be delivered this year. Deliveries will continue until 2027. Its mechanical front and rear differential locks and its tight turning circle give it excellent crossing capacity. Its load capacity of 900 kg can be increased by an additional 400 kg with its trailer making it a perfect vehicle for transport. It can be armed with two 7.76mm machine guns fixed with NATO cones. It is also capable of towing a Mo120 RT mortar.
