France’s DGA Qualifies Modernized Minefield Breaching Vehicle Variant

France’s Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) has qualified an upgraded version of the SDPMAC minefield breaching vehicle “Vulcain.”

The Vulcain incorporates new equipment as well as reinforced protection.

The SDPMAC is an engineering device specialized in breaching. The system is based on an AMX30 chassis equipped with a rocket launcher. It allows rapid neutralization of anti-tank mines buried or scattered on the ground, in particular to open a corridor (typically 100 m long by several meters wide) allowing the safe passage of a formation of combat vehicles.

Eleven vehicles are currently in service with the Army. The VULCAIN standard, an evolution of the upgraded SDPMAC, notably includes a winch, new ballistic protection and a new rocket intended for the remote triggering of the mines to be treated.

The entire fleet of eleven SDPMACs will be brought up to the new standard by 2024.