France receives first 32-tonne VBCI vehicles
The French defense procurement agency, DGA, has taken delivery of the first three 32-tonne VBCI wheeled armoured vehicles, the Ministry of Defence announced on 9 April.
The three 32-tonne variants of the VBCI will be used for training the crew of the 1st African Rifle regiment stationed at Canjuers in southeastern France.
The DGA certified the modification of the armoured vehicles in October 2014. This modification will increase the maximum authorised weight of the vehicle by three tonnes. As a result, the vehicle can accommodate additional protection equipment needed to safely operate on operational theatres where troops are deployed.
Another four 32-tonne VBCI variants will be delivered by July 2015 and deliveries will continue after that at a rate of four per month. A total of 95 upgraded vehicles are planned to be delivered by the summer of 2017.
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