Nexter VBCI Armored Personnel Carrier French Military Tecnology

The VBCI infantry fighting vehicle version has a combat weight of 26t and accommodates the two crew, the gunner, the driver and a combat team of eight troops and a commander. The troops can rapidly embark or disembark from the power operated ramp door at the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle will operate in high intensity operations and with Leclerc main battle tanks. The crew and troops are protected from a range of threats, including 155mm shell shrapnel and small and medium calibre shells. The welded steel and aluminium alloy hull is fitted with spall liners and add-on titanium armour plate to protect against anti-tank weapons. The box structure floor and running gear provide protection against exploding mines. In September 2009, DGA placed an additional order for 332 VBCI vehicles, bringing the total to 630. By June 2010, 200 vehicles had been delivered. The last VBCI will be delivered to the French Army by 2015.

Renault has responsibility for the mobility systems, including the driver's station, engine, gearbox, suspension and axles and on board electrical networks. Nexter is responsible for the armoured hull, interior furnishing, assembly and integration of the turret and vehicle, observation, command and control, weapons and self-protection systems.

The VBCI commander's station is equipped with the SIT terminal information system, developed by Nexter and EADS Defense Electronics Systems. SIT is based on the FINDERS system in service on French Army Leclerc tanks. Nexter is responsible for the software and system integration, EADS for the computer and graphics terminal. The system connects the weapon systems and the command vehicles equipped with them to the chain of command. It allows the exchange of digitised data, including the tactical situation and graphic orders displayed on a background map, between the vehicle and the unit commander.
The gunner is seated in the turret. The gunner's sight is supplied by Thales Optronique based in Guyancourt. It is a multisensor optronic sight that includes a direct day optical channel, a thermal imager, a laser range finder and video channel linked to the weapon fire control system.

The sight includes a new generation Catherine-QW multi-quantum well thermal camera, based on technology developed by Thales Optronique and Sofradir. The periscopic sight sub-assembly and the laser rangefinder are manufactured by Thales Optronics in the UK. The command vehicle is the second version of VBCI. It is fitted with SIT-V1 information consoles, linked to the Army Tactical Information Network and Regimental Battle Management System (BMS) manufactured by EADS and Thales. The vehicle is equipped with an Arrows-300 remote controlled MG turret operated from within the vehicle.