The French Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) procurement agency has initiated rigorous testing of the Thales Diamant hard-kill active protection system (APS). The ongoing evaluation is part of the Prometeus (PROtection Multi Effets Terrestre Unifiée pour Scorpion) program aimed at developing advanced Active Protection Systems (APS) for the French Army’s cutting-edge Griffon armoured vehicles. Since 2022, comprehensive testing protocols have been underway, involving the installation of Diamant on the Griffon multirole armoured vehicle (VBMR). These tests encompass static assessments as well as on-the-move trials, pushing the vehicle’s limits at speeds reaching 70 km/h. Notably, a reusable modular test rig has been devised to simulate and analyze the Diamant APS’s performance across various vehicle models, capable of responding effectively to threats originating from multiple directions.
The Diamant APS employs a distributed hard-kill system strategy, integrating four frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar sensors strategically mounted on the vehicle’s corners. This setup is complemented by effector modules situated around the vehicle’s perimeter, enhancing its defensive capabilities. Unlike earlier versions, this iteration minimizes reliance on optical sensors, ensuring heightened reliability even in adverse environmental conditions such as dense smoke. The system detects and tracks potential threats, including anti-tank rockets (ATRs) and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), utilizing its radar sensors. Upon threat detection, the APS activates the suitable effector module, launching countermeasures to neutralize or diminish the threat’s capacity to breach the vehicle’s passive armor. Thales has been steadfastly developing the Diamant APS since the early 2000s. Its design is tailored to safeguard a spectrum of vehicles under the Scorpion armoured vehicle program, including Serval and Jaguar models.
The VBMR (Vehicule Blinde Multi-Roles, Multirole Armoured Vehicle Griffon) Griffon armored personnel carrier, developed by Nexter in partnership with Arquus and Thales, serves as the platform for these crucial trials. Introduced into operational service in 2019, this multipurpose armoured personnel carrier embodies an innovative design, utilizing a 6×6 commercial all-terrain truck chassis. Its configuration accommodates up to eight infantry soldiers, boasting a layout with the engine compartment at the front, crew cabin in the middle, and troop compartment at the rear. The Griffon’s V-shaped hull significantly enhances its protection against landmines and improvised explosive devices, augmenting its suitability for unconventional warfare and low-intensity conflicts. It bridges the gap between conventional armored personnel carriers and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles, delivering superior protection levels compared to its predecessor, the VAB (Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé, Armoured Forward Vehicle) armoured personnel carrier.
