The DGA has ordered 30 Serval DSA variants, pictured at Eurosatory 2024. (Janes/Christopher Petrov)
The Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, announced on 28 January that it had ordered EUR600 million (nearly USD623 million) worth of new air-defence and counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UASs) in December 2024 within the framework of France's Loi de Programmation Militaire (LPM) 2024–30 military funding programme approved on 13 July 2023.
The first order was placed with MBDA France for eight VL (Vertical Launch) MICA short-range air-defence systems, continuing the procurement started with the first systems of the type delivered during the first half of 2024 that contributed to protecting the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The second order was placed with KNDS France for surface-to-air defence (défense sol-air: DSA) and counter-unmanned aerial (lutte anti-drones: LAD) vehicle versions of the Serval Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle Léger (VBMR-L) 4×4 light multirole armoured vehicle. The initial orders are for 30 DSA and 24 LAD versions. The Serval DSA vehicle has a turret from MBDA France allowing the employment of the Mistral missile under the armour and also including a self-defence weapon in the turret. The LAD version will have a remote-controlled (RC) weapon station with a 30 mm cannon and radar and radio frequency systems.
The third order, also with MBDA France, is for the RC version of the company's Système Integré de Mistral Bitube d'Auto-Défense (SIMBAD) shipborne lightweight short-range self-defence system for French Navy offshore patrol vessels and tankers. The fourth order, with KNDS France and Thales, is for the development of a 40 mm round for French Navy vessels.
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