Nexter and Texelis are delighted at Tuesday’s confirmation by Florence Parly, Minister of Armies, for the attribution of the supply of Lightweight Multi-Role Armored Vehicles (VBMR Véhicules Blindés Multi-Rôles) for the French Army. The contract went through the “Direction Générale de l’Armement” (DGA) in the presence of Joël Barre, National Armament Director (NAD), and Bernard Barrera, Major General of the land forces.

These 4-wheel drive vehicles are designed for use by the Army’s intelligence and reconnaissance units as part of the SCORPION program. With their multi-role capability, they are equipped with the SCORPION information and communication systems (SICS) and come in several variants: troop transport, command post, artillery fire control, engineering, ambulance, and ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance), tactical communication hub, etc.

The Nexter Group will be responsible for the design to cost and performance, integration, production and support of the lightweight VBMR. This fully French-made vehicle will be assembled in Roanne, alongside the VBMR-GRIFFON and EBRC-JAGUAR, thus reinforcing job creation in the Roanne basin and in the engineering offices.

TEXELIS, a French intermediate sized enterprise based in Limoges, will design and supply the mobility equipment. As the French specialist in heavy vehicle power trains, Texelis contributes to the Lightweight VBMR's mobility performance.

Stéphane Mayer, Nexter’s CEO commented: “I am extremely proud and pleased of this recognition of the expertise of Nexter and its teams, who have come up with the perfect answer to this program’s requirements. With this contract Nexter is reinforcing its presence within the SCORPION program and strengthening its position as the reference player in the field of land armament”.

This contract follows on from the industrial architect contract awarded to tns-MARS (a JV including Nexter, Safran and Thales), the contract grouping together the design, production and support of the VBMR-GRIFFON and the EBRC-JAGUAR (within a temporary consortium consisting of Nexter, Thales and Renault Trucks Defense) and from the renewal of the Leclerc tank of which Nexter is prime contractor.

For his part, Charles-Antoine de Barbuat, Texelis CEO said: “I am very proud of the Texelis team for the part they have played in winning this highly significant contract for Lightweight VBMR. The decision of the DGA and the partnership with Nexter strengthens and confirms our strategy to be specialists in wheeled armored vehicle and public transport mobility.”

Nexter, the leading French land defense company and third European player in the ammunition sector is part of the KNDS Group. It is dedicated to meet the needs of the French land forces and of Nations on an international scale. The scope of its business includes the supply of weapon systems and ammunition for air and naval forces. Nexter also provides systems and protection solutions in the field of homeland security.

The group continues to apply its international development policy with 60% of the order intake in 2016 intended for the export market. In France, Nexter is fully committed to meeting the objectives of the SCORPION program, through the renovation of the Leclerc tank and the development of the future VBMR and EBRC vehicles within the GME (temporary business venture between Nexter, Thales and Renault Trucks Defense).

Nexter’s 2016 turnover amounted to €866 million, of which 19% is allocated to Research and Development activities. The group’s range of products includes ARAVIS®, TITUS® and VBCI armored vehicles, CAESAR®, TRAJAN® and 105LG1 artillery systems, smart ammunition (BONUS), as well as customer service and support.

Texelis designs and manufactures axles and transmissions for large heavy-duty vehicles, particularly in the public transport (metros, trams and buses) and defense fields (trucks and wheeled armored vehicles). Texelis supports both manufacturers/integrators and operators throughout the product life-cycle, from their initial design up to their renewal. The company has 310 employees, based mainly in Limoges, France.