France Takes Delivery Of Three VBCI Wheeled Armored Vehicle

The French Ministry Of Defence announced Thursday that the defense procurement agency, DGA, has taken delivery of the first three 32-tonne variants of the VBCI wheeled armored vehicle, which will be used to train crews of the 1st African Rifle regiment stationed at Canjuers.

The modification of the vehicles, which were certified by DGA in October 2014, will increase the vehicles’ maximum authorized weight by 3 tonnes, allowing additional protection equipment required to safely operate on the harshest operational theaters where French troops are deployed.

Four additional vehicles will be delivered by July, and deliveries will continue at a rate of four per month. Delivery of the planned 95 upgraded vehicles is to be completed by the summer of 2017.