On May 16, 2018, the French company Nexter Systems officially unveiled the first prototype of the EBRC Jaguar armored vehicle with a 6x6 wheel arrangement, created as the "flagship" model of the French Army's perspective wheeled armored vehicle within the SCORPION program. This prototype EBRC Jaguar will be publicly demonstrated in June at the Eurosatory 2018 in Paris.
The Jaguar is intended to replace the French Army's AMX-10RC and ERC-90S cannon armament combat vehicles, as well as the VCAC Mehhisto self-propelled ATGMs (on the VAB armored vehicle chassis) ). The development of Jaguar, as well as the other main machine of the program SCORPION (Synergie du contact renforcée par la polyvalence et l'infovalorisation), an armored personnel carrier VBMR Griffon with the wheel formula 6x6), designed to replace the VAB VAB) - is carried out by the consortium of Nexter, Thales and Renault Trucks Defense (RTD). Deliveries of EBRC Jaguar and VBMR Griffon cars are scheduled to start in 2020, although it is unclear whether this period will be sustained.
Earlier, the French army planned to purchase 248 EBRC Jaguar cars and 1668 VBMR Griffon vehicles, but in the recently approved arms program for 2019-2025 it was approved an increase in the procurement plan for up to 300 EBRC Jaguar cars and 1,892 VBMR Griffon cars by 2030. Including 110 cars EBRC Jaguar is supposed to be delivered in 2025. In April 2017, a consortium led by Nexter was awarded a contract for the delivery of the first 20 EBRC Jaguar cars and 319 VBMR Griffon vehicles.
In June 2017, the Belgian government also decided to purchase for the Belgian Army 67 cars EBRC Jaguar and 417 cars VBMR Griffon in the period 2025-2030.
The EBRC Jaguar with a 6x6 wheel configuration will have a full combat mass of up to 25 tons and is equipped with a twin tower T40 with a 40mm CTAS CT40 automatic cannon firing telescopic ammunition. Also on the tower there are two double-charging launchers for the new MBDA MMP. The crew is three people. The ballistic protection of the machine is declared on the level of STANAG 4569 Level 4 and reinforced anti-mine protection.
(BMPD)