Ten years after its launch, France’s SCORPION programme has delivered more than 1,100 new and upgraded armoured vehicles to the Armée de Terre, with production rates tripling and capability upgrades already feeding back from operational deployments. The French Army and its industrial partners used the two-day SCORPION Days event at the Canjuers training centre in early March 2025 to stage live tactical demonstrations and operational forums, giving foreign delegations a first-hand look at the programme’s networked, digitised land systems. The SCORPION (Synergie du Contact Renforcé par la Polyvalence et l’Infovalorisation) effort is the cornerstone of the French Army’s shift toward collaborative combat in high-intensity scenarios. At its heart is the SCORPION Combat Information System (SICS), which fuses real-time data sharing, vetronics, and satellite communications across platforms to enable “infovalorised” units that see, decide, and act faster than legacy formations. As of March 2025, the French Army operates 723 VBMR Griffon 6×6 multirole vehicles, 296 VBMR-L Serval light protected vehicles, and 91 EBRC Jaguar 6×6 reconnaissance and combat vehicles. Deliveries in 2024 alone totalled 151 Griffons, 103 Servals, and 35 Jaguars. KNDS France’s Roanne final-assembly facility has undergone a major expansion, lifting annual output from 92 to 300 vehicles in five years; the target is now 450 vehicles per year across all SCORPION models. The site also manages all armour machining and integration work, ensuring French sovereignty over the critical protection layer.
Originally planned in three configurations, the Griffon now exists in six variants. The first Mounted Mortar for Close Support (MEPAC) variant—armed with a 120 mm mortar—entered service at the end of 2024 and demonstrated its firepower during the Canjuers tactical scenarios. A medical-evacuation version that doubles casualty-carrying capacity compared with the outgoing VAB SAN is also rolling out. All Griffons share common vetronics and the Arquus HORNET remotely controlled turret. The Jaguar reached R2 standard qualification in 2024, unlocking full use of its digitised 40 mm turret for fire-on-the-move. The forthcoming R3 standard, slated for qualification in 2025 under Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) oversight, will add in-flight missile redirection and airburst munitions. Thirty-five Jaguars were delivered last year, equipping cavalry regiments that will eventually field seven full units. An amendment signed by the DGA at the end of 2024 adds 627 more Servals, bringing the programme total well beyond initial plans. Two new mission packages were introduced: a counter-drone variant fitted with KNDS France’s ARX30 turret and a ground-based air-defence version carrying MBDA’s MISTRAL missiles on the ATLAS RC turret. The Serval’s common chassis—developed with Texelis—already supports 16 major variants, ranging from electronic warfare and tactical communications nodes to armoured patrol and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roles.
Feedback from Griffon deployments in the Sahel since 2021 and more recent operations in Eastern Europe has driven Increment 2 enhancements. These focus on improved robustness, ergonomics, and stealth. Qualification testing is scheduled for the second and third quarters of 2025, with first upgraded vehicles due in 2026. All SCORPION platforms are designed from the outset to integrate the SICS network and new-generation Syracuse IV satellite communication stations. The first of these high-data-rate terminals—capable of reliable links while stationary or on the move—have already been fielded by the industrial consortium GME EBMR (KNDS France, Arquus, Thales). The 6th Light Armoured Brigade (6e BLB) has become the French Army’s inaugural combined-arms formation equipped entirely with SCORPION systems. During the major BIA23 exercise, the brigade employed new artillery observation (VOA) vehicles and satellite communication posts for the first time, replacing ageing VAB OBS platforms and markedly improving fire-support responsiveness. Parallel to the wheeled fleet, the Army received its 34th renovated Leclerc main battle tank by the end of 2024 as part of a 200-vehicle upgrade programme managed by KNDS France.
SCORPION Days included dedicated forums on doctrinal evolution, digitised unit organisation, interoperability, and integrated logistics support. Belgium’s CaMo programme is the most advanced export embodiment: assembly of Belgian Griffons began at the Mol facility in early 2025, with first deliveries planned for July 2025 and Jaguar deliveries following in late 2026. Industry officials and French Army leaders used the event to underscore SCORPION’s role in preparing the force for future high-intensity conflict while maintaining expeditionary flexibility. With production capacity now scaled and combat-proven feedback loops established, the programme is positioned to deliver the French Army’s most significant land-force transformation in a generation.
