VBCI
The VBCI meets the requirement for infantry combat vehicles combining great mobility, very high protection level and ability to meet the evolution of the missions. It is, to date, intended for the accompaniment of tanks during offensive actions or for dismounted operations in urban areas.
The contract awarded by the French Army (development + production) includes two versions:
Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) which will mainly equip the infantry units and will also support the LECLERC main battle tank units,Command Post Vehicle (CPV).
The VBCI will carry the future infantryman (FELIN) and will fit into the digitised battlefield with its battlefield management system (see FINDERS® entry).
Thanks to its modular design, the VBCI family is intended to expand with a variety of variants requested by the French Army, the pre-feasibility studies of which are under way. The 8x8 solution makes it possible to design vehicles featuring high tactical mobility and incorporating the same protection and armament as tracked vehicles. Compared to the latter, the wheeled vehicles can move faster and are more comfortable over long distances. In addition, they are cost-effective in terms of acquisition, fuel-efficient and easier to maintain. The VBCI is airportable in an Airbus A400M.
The VBCI has been designed for high intensity operations. Its modular amoured structure allows protection to be suited to the threats. It can accept a variety of weapon systems depending on the operational requirements. The ICV version is fitted with a one-man 25 mm turret with remote observation, sighting and firing capability at the commander's station. This configuration offers the functionalities of a two-man- turret with lesser space requirements and allows the team leader to be easily dismounted with his combat team.
Placing the fighter in the heart of the system, the design of the VBCI is such that it fully allows for human factors. It creates the conditions required for the effectiveness of the fighter, with optimised onboard living comfort and ease of equipment operation.
The use of commercial off-the-shelf components and the search for standardisation contribute to reducing costs and making maintenance easier.
Photos
| Weight and dimensions | |
| Empty weight | < 18 tonnes |
| Maximum combat weight | < 28 tonnes |
| Payload | 10 tonnes |
| Length (chassis) | 7,80 m |
| Width (chassis) | 2,98 m |
| Height (chassis) | 2,26 m |
| Useful internal volume | > 13 m3 (complies with the size criteria of 95% of the population by 2010) |
| Crew + combat team | 2 + 9 men |
| Protection | |
| High-performance aluminium hull. | |
| Add-on homogeneous metal armour (very high hardness steel, titanium) regenerable in combat, with growth potential. | |
| Spall liner. | |
| Full NBC protection. | |
| Fire-suppression system (engine compartment and crew compartment). | |
| Protection against mines. | |
| Anti-laser protection of optics. | |
| Infrared decoy system (LIRE 30). | |
| Système d’autoprotection GALIX | |
| GALIX self-protection system. | |
| Optimised thermal and radar signature. | |
| Mobility | |
| 8 drive wheels, of which 4 leading wheels with large clearance. | |
| Enginer | Diesel 550 HP. |
| Gearbox | automatique |
| Suspension | Dual-purpose hydropneumatic/mechanical |
| Short steering lock system through one-sided braking | |
| Turning diametere | 17 m |
| Central tyre inflation system | |
| Wheels fitted with a run-flat device limité | |
| Speed | 100 km/h |
| Range | ~ 750 km |
| Ground clearance | 50 cm |
| Step | 70 cm |
| Trench | 2 m |
| Fording | 1,20 m ithout preparation, 1.50 with preparation. |
| Road and railway gauge | |
| Air transport | A400M |
| Armament | |
| 1-man 25 mm turret. | |
| 25 mm x 137 NATO dual-feed cannon (see Type 25 M 811 cannon entry). | |
| Observation, sighting and firing capability at the commander's station in the chassis. | |
| Fire-control system incorporating laser rangefinder and thermal camera. | |
| 7.62 mm NATO coaxial machine gun. | |
| Identification Friend-or-Foe (IFF) | |
| Ergonomics - human factors | |
| Driver's field of view | 180° ; day/night vision |
| Vehicle commander's field of view: 300° with the periscopic vision and 360° with panoramic day sight and thermal panoramic observation equipment; day/night visionit. | |
| Infantrymen field of view | 143° ith periscopes in the rear sector; 70° for side vision either side |
| Rapid boarding and dismounting through rear ramp | |
| Internal and external stowage intended for personnel carried aboard | |
| Air conditioning system | |
| Command and control | |
| Battlefield management system (SIT) | |