SCORPION Days: the overhaul of the French Army presented in Canjuers, France

The first vehicles of the SCORPION program were delivered in 2019. Since then, significant investments have been made at the final assembly site of KNDS France in Roanne, increasing production capacity from 92 to 300 vehicles per year—a threefold increase in just five years. The goal is to reach 450 vehicles per year for all program models combined. KNDS France also handles all machining operations related to protection and integration.

The SCORPION fleet’s adaptability remains a key strength 10 years after the program’s launch. Initially, only three versions of the GRIFFON were planned, but today, there are six. In this regard, the first GRIFFON MEPAC (Mounted Mortar for Close Support) was delivered at the end of 2024. The MEPAC will demonstrate its firepower during a tactical scenario at SCORPION Days. Additionally, the GRIFFON Medical Evacuation variant, which doubles the capacity for evacuating severely wounded soldiers compared to the old VAB SAN, is currently being deployed.

The SCORPION program’s industrial partners continue to equip the French Army with cutting-edge land capabilities, such as new communication stations compatible with Syracuse IV. The Temporary consortium of companies (GME EBMR) has integrated the first stations connected to this next-generation satellite system, providing unprecedented communication reliability and high data transfer rates, whether stationary or on the move. All adaptation kits from the first order have been delivered.

SCORPION also benefits from upgrades based on operational feedback from GRIFFON deployments in the Sahel and Eastern Europe. These improvements, grouped under Increment 2, focus on enhanced vehicle robustness, ergonomic optimizations, and stealth improvements. Qualification tests will take place in Q2 and Q3 of this year, with new vehicles incorporating these upgrades starting in 2026.

SCORPION’s armored vehicles are natively designed to integrate the SCORPION Combat Information System (SICS), which enables real-time battlefield digitization and collaborative combat by allowing units to share tactical information instantly.

To fully implement these new combat capabilities, the 6th Light Armored Brigade (6e BLB) has become the first fully “SCORPIONized” combined arms brigade (BIA).

For the major BIA23 exercise, the GME EBMR consortium played a critical role in upgrading and supplying vehicles, enabling the first-ever use of new artillery targeting (VOA) and satellite communication (EPC) capabilities during an exercise. This year, the delivery of VOA vehicles has accelerated, incorporating the latest targeting technology updates. These vehicles replace aging VAB OBS models, significantly strengthening France’s artillery capabilities in response to lessons learned from recent conflicts.

35 JAGUAR vehicles were delivered in 2024. The JAGUAR is now fully qualified and deployed at the R2 standard, allowing full use of its digitized 40mm turret developed by KNDS France, including mobile fire-on-the-move capabilities. The R3 standard, scheduled for qualification in 2025, will introduce in-flight missile redirection capabilities and airburst munitions, which have just entered their final development phase under the French procurement defense agency (DGA)’s supervision.

151 GRIFFON vehicles were delivered in 2024. Available in multiple variants, the GRIFFON can perform a variety of roles, including troop transport, command post, communications relay, medical evacuation, artillery observation, and 120mm mortar support (MEPAC).

The GRIFFON was first deployed in 2021 in the Sahel, where it quickly gained recognition for its operational effectiveness, mobility, and ease of maintenance.

It shares common equipment with other SCORPION vehicles, including vetronics and HORNET remote-controlled turrets from ARQUUS. 

The CaMo program (Capacité Motorisée) is progressing as planned. The assembly of Belgium’s GRIFFON vehicles began in early 2025 at the Mol Cy facility in Belgium, with the first deliveries scheduled for July 2025. The first JAGUAR deliveries to Belgium are expected in late 2026.

103 SERVAL vehicles were delivered in 2024. An amendment signed by the DGA in late 2024 extends production to an additional 627 SERVAL vehicles and introduces two new variants: 

• Counter-drone warfare, equipped with the ARX30 turret (KNDS France).

• Ground-based air defense MISTRAL, equipped with the ATLAS RC turret (MBDA).

KNDS France and Texelis developed the SERVAL based on a common core chassis, with four versions and 16 major variants, covering a wide range of missions, including Electronic Warfare, Armored Patrol Vehicle, Tactical Communication Node, and Surveillance, Support, Intelligence, and Reconnaissance.

At the end of 2024, the French Army received the 34th upgraded Leclerc tank, out of the 200 currently being modernized.

Foreign delegations attending SCORPION Days will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the program through discussion forums organized by the French Army. Topics will include:

• Doctrinal evolution

• The organization of digitized units

• Operational impact of SCORPION vehicles

• Interoperability

• Vehicle support and logistics, an integrated part of the program from the outset

These shared insights and operational feedback will enhance discussions, providing a valuable perspective on the future of land warfare.