The first roadworthy prototypes of the French Army’s new 4×4 Vehicule Blinde Multi-Role - Light (VBMR-L) Serval armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) are now undergoing performance trials and more prototypes are slated for delivery later this year, according to Matthew Kirk, defence marketing manager at Texelis.
Following a competition, the Direction Generale de l’Armement (DGA) selected Nexter Systems and Texelis for the VBMR-L programme, subject to an intercompany contract signed in February 2017, followed by a formal contract in February 2018. Under this deal, DGA pays Nexter Systems and Texelis each for their work on Serval.
Originally, Texelis’s Limoges facility was to send a complete running chassis to the Nexter Systems Roanne facility. The chassis was then to be fitted with a welded monocoque hull and integrated with all sub-systems, and then delivered to the French Army.
Texelis is responsible for all of the Serval’s mobility aspects, including power pack, driveline, and suspension. (Texelis)
However, due to “the challenging timescales required by our customer, Texelis will now deliver Nexter Systems a specific kit for each Serval vehicle, which will include the necessary mobility sub-systems for that particular variant”, Kirk said. All of the mobility elements will be provided by Texelis – including the engine, transmission, transfer case, protected fuel tanks, and electrics such as alternator, steering, and automatic pre-heater for the engine.
Serval will have a combat weight of 17 tonnes and, in addition to its crew of two, will carry eight dismounts. One of the dismounts will operate the roof-mounted remote weapon station (RWS) armed with a stabilised machine gun (MG). One of the Serval’s four roof hatches can host a pintle-mounted MG to cover the vehicle’s rear arc.
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