Taking a significant step towards bolstering the French Army's security capabilities, the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) procurement agency is currently in the midst of rigorous testing for the Thales Diamant hard-kill active protection system (APS). Central to this assessment is the Prometeus program, tailored for advancing Active Protection Systems (APS) for the cutting-edge Griffon armoured vehicles.
Since 2022, the testing process has been comprehensive, specifically focusing on the Griffon multirole armoured vehicle (VBMR). These evaluations encompass static assessments and on-the-move trials, pushing the vehicle's boundaries at speeds up to an impressive 70 km/h. An interesting facet of these trials involves the use of a reusable modular test rig, strategically designed to simulate and analyze the Diamant APS's performance across various vehicle models, ensuring effectiveness against threats from multiple directions.
The Diamant APS deploys an advanced distributed hard-kill system strategy, integrating four strategically mounted frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar sensors at the vehicle's corners. This is complemented by effector modules around the vehicle's perimeter, significantly enhancing its defensive capabilities. Importantly, this version minimizes reliance on optical sensors, ensuring heightened reliability even in adverse environmental conditions like dense smoke.
The system's ability to detect and track potential threats, such as anti-tank rockets (ATRs) and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), is facilitated by its radar sensors. Upon threat detection, the APS activates the appropriate effector module, launching countermeasures to neutralize or diminish the threat's capability to breach the vehicle's passive armor.
With unwavering dedication, Thales has been developing the Diamant APS since the early 2000s. The design is tailored to safeguard a range of vehicles under the Scorpion armoured vehicle program, including models like Serval and Jaguar. The VBMR Griffon, playing a pivotal role in this development, serves as the platform for these groundbreaking trials.
Introduced into operational service in 2019, the VBMR Griffon stands out with its multipurpose armoured personnel carrier, featuring an innovative design and utilizing a 6×6 commercial all-terrain truck chassis. Accommodating up to eight infantry soldiers, the layout situates the engine compartment at the front, crew cabin in the middle, and troop compartment at the rear. The V-shaped hull significantly enhances protection against landmines and improvised explosive devices, making it ideal for unconventional warfare and low-intensity conflicts.
In essence, the VBMR Griffon, coupled with the Thales Diamant APS, marks a notable advancement in the capabilities of French armoured vehicles. This integration of technology and design bridges the gap between conventional armored personnel carriers and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles, delivering enhanced protection levels and setting new standards for the future of military mobility and defense.
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Land Force