French connection. Nexter company announced in the promising army program EBRC
Nexter Systems Vehicle Electronics Laboratory. On the photo of the place of the shooter and the commander in the layout of the double EBRC tower
France seeks to put its EBRC armored reconnaissance vehicle (Engin Blinde de Reconnaissance) project into the foundation of the future rapid reaction force of the French army.
Today, the main intelligence capabilities of the French army are based on Nexter Systems' armored AMX-1 ORC 6x6 and Panhard Defense Sagaie 6x6 armored vehicles (currently part of Renault Trucks Defense), but these outdated systems in the next decade should be replaced by EBRC machines.
A total of 337 machines, the AMX-1 ORC, was supplied to the French Army since 1978. Subsequently, 256 of them were upgraded by the army and Nexter Systems to the AMX-1ORCR standard (R means updated); the last one was shipped in 2010.
In addition, since 1996, Panhard has upgraded 160 from 192 Sagaie machines by installing a new power unit with a MTU diesel engine with an 170 hp power. and automatic transmission Renk. But, nevertheless, the tower of this machine still has manual control and limited characteristics of target acquisition.
Both of these machines were widely deployed, especially in Africa, where they participated in operations in Mali and other conflicts. However, the basic design of armored vehicles AMX-1 ORC and Sagaie is more than 40 years old and the French army hopes to begin replacing them with about 250 EBRC reconnaissance platforms.
A few years ago, Nexter Systems as part of the EBRC project studied several configurations under a contract with the Arms Purchasing Office (DGA). Several tracked and wheeled platforms equipped with various weapon systems were analyzed.
After that, the French army confirmed that the EBRC would be an 6x6 wheel formula with a total weight of approximately 25 tons, the crew would be three people, a two-seat turret with an 40-mm gun and an 7,62-mm machine gun would be installed on it.
Such a mass will allow in the future to carry out upgrades, as well as transport it in the Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft, which will soon replace the outdated C-160 transports of the French Air Force.
At the end of 2013, the DGA issued a request for proposals for the EBRC, which provides for the development and manufacture of prototype test machines with a design date for the first batch of vehicles in the 2020 year.
The EBRC project will allow the French army to dramatically increase its intelligence capabilities by completing key tasks in a car with enhanced protection, increased mobility and firepower in almost any weather conditions.
For several years, Nexter Systems conducted additional research and built new capacities on its Versailles-Satory site near Paris, where its main research laboratories for integration and system development are located.
Upgraded VBCI 8x8 SCIP2 BMP with sensors and cameras mounted on the mast
Recent investments in Satory include a vehicle electronics integration laboratory known as LIV, three-dimensional immersion and parallel survivability studies, including on new armored systems.
The LIV is easily configured, for example, in 2013, it worked on three crew locations of the prospective EBRC, which allowed users to get preliminary information about the potential configurations of key aspects of the human-machine interface in the tower and in the driver's seat.
Nexter Systems has completed a scale model of its EBRC concept, which has a welded aluminum hull with hinged armor in a frontal arc and a traditional layout: the driver is placed in front, the tower is in the middle and the diesel power unit is installed in the rear part. The machine must have good mobility with all-wheel steering and a centralized wheel inflation system.
Based on the combat experience gained in Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan, the crew compartment will have the highest (as Nexter can give) protection against various threats, including mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The future EBRC will have an electronic architecture that will simplify the modernization of the machine as new technologies become available, as well as the 360 ° all-round camera for round-the-clock surveillance and built-in learning opportunities.
Nexter has recently manufactured a SCIP2 mobile vemonics demonstration, which is based on the VCI 8x8 BMP. This machine, currently in service with the French army, participated in operations in Afghanistan, Lebanon and relatively recently in Mali.
The SCIP2 configuration provides touch screens for the commander, the gunner, the driver and the squad leader sitting in the stern of the vehicle.
The EBRC will be a key element of the network capabilities of the French army's SCOPION program, which will combine various air and ground platforms, including unmanned systems.
In addition, the machine will be equipped with a sensor complex on the mast, which includes a day / night camera for quick all-round observation. The image from it and other information will be displayed on the touch screens.
Double seat solution
After studying remotely operated, single and double towers, France chose a double tower for the EBRC.
As for weapons, Nexter Systems recently completed its twin turret T40M (T - tower, M - habitable) 40-mm system with telescopic CTAS (Case Telescoped Armament System) and mounted on the roof with an 7,62-mm machine gun.
The first T40M was made in the middle of the 2012 of the year and is currently installed on the AMX-1 ORC for testing purposes. Initial fire tests were conducted at the end of the 2013 of the year.
40-mm CTAS was developed by CTAI, a joint venture between French Nexter Systems and British BAE Systems, and proposed for the Lockheed Martin UK Warrior WCSP (Warrior Capability Sustainment Program) extension program and the Specialist Vehicle - Scout project from General Dynamics UK.
40-mm CTAS can fire several types of ammunition, including sub-caliber armor-piercing (APFSDS-T), practical tracer and universal with point detonation (GPR-PD). In addition, in the future, it will be able to shoot a universal air explosive projectile (GPR-AB-T), which also has a shock mode.
Electric turret drives with manual override, the CTAS 40-mm gun, when installed in the T40M turret, has a maximum vertical guidance angle of 45 °.
A commander or a gunner can direct a CTAS 40-mm cannon at a target using an opto-electronic kit, which consists of a daytime CCD camera, a thermal imager and a laser rangefinder safe for eyes. The tower also has a panoramic sight from SAGEM with similar capabilities, which allows you to have search and shock capabilities.
AMX-10RC 6x6 French Army chassis with a T40M turret with a CTAS 40-mm gun mounted on the roof of an 7,62-mm machine gun and ATGM launchers on each side of the turret
Tower Nexter Systems T40M. The maximum angle of elevation of the CTAS cannon and the turrets' stern niche (touring) are clearly visible.
Nexter states that the fire control system during the EBRC movement will provide a high probability of hitting from the first shot; the automatic turret tracking device will also be installed on the serial towers.
For direct observation in the daytime, the commander has five periscopes, and the shooter has three periscopes.
The T40M all-welded aluminum alloy turret with a modular hinged armor kit that provides maximum protection in accordance with the 5 level according to the STANAG 4569 standard.
The commander is located on the left, and the arrow on the right, both have hatches that open backwards.
A remote-controlled combat module with an 7,62-mm machine gun, which can be aimed at a target by a commander, gunner, and even a driver, is installed on the roof of the turret.
A launch container with two Missile Moyenne Portee missiles (medium-range missile) or one launch container with two missiles on one side of the tower and a smoke grenade launcher on the other can be installed on each side of the turret.
New missile can shoot at targets in direct and indirect visibility, while they may be indicated by another air or ground platform.
It is expected that the EBRC serial machines are likely to be equipped with an active protection complex and an optical-electronic countermeasure complex. They were shown by Nexter Systems and they were already integrated into the T40M tower.
Apparently, a serious struggle will be going on for the EBRC project, since Panhard Defense has already shown its Sphinx 6x6 armored car model with a Lockheed Martin UK turret armed with a CTAS 40-mm cannon.
Materials used:
www.janes.com
www.nexter-group.fr
www.en.wikipedia.org
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