DBDC INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE PUBLICATIONS & EVENTS UK LTD

Photo credit: KNDS

Ten years after the launch of the SCORPION programme, the French Army is showcasing one of Europe’s most ambitious land force modernisation efforts at SCORPION Days in Canjuers, France. The event brings together the French Army, industry partners and foreign delegations to demonstrate the operational relevance, maturity and future direction of the programme’s advanced armoured vehicle fleet and digitised combat systems.

The scale of progress is already significant.  To date, 723 GRIFFON, 296 SERVAL and 91 JAGUAR vehicles have entered service with the French armed forces, marking a major leap in the renewal of France’s land combat capabilities. What began with the first deliveries in 2019 has rapidly developed into a large-scale industrial and operational transformation.

A key element behind this success is industrial acceleration. At KNDS France’s Roanne final assembly site, production capacity has risen from 92 vehicles per year to 300, with the objective of reaching 450 vehicles annually across the programme’s models. This reflects not only the urgency of French defence modernisation, but also the industrial resilience required to sustain it over the long term.

The adaptability of the SCORPION fleet remains one of its core strengths. While only three GRIFFON variants were originally planned, the vehicle now exists in six configurations. New additions include the GRIFFON MEPAC, a mounted mortar platform for close fire support, and the GRIFFON Medical Evacuation version, which significantly improves casualty evacuation capacity compared to the legacy VAB SAN. These developments illustrate how the programme continues to evolve in response to operational requirements. Beyond vehicles, SCORPION represents a broader overhaul of the French Army’s doctrine and

battlefield networking. The programme integrates the SCORPION Combat Information System (SICS), enabling real-time tactical information sharing and collaborative combat between units. This digital backbone is central to France’s concept of modern combined-arms warfare. The programme also incorporating operational lessons learned from deployments in the Sahel and Eastern Europe. These improvements, grouped under Increment 2, focus on enhanced robustness, better ergonomics and reduced vehicle signature. Qualification tests are scheduled during 2025, with upgraded production vehicles expected from 2026.

The French Army has already made major doctrinal progress through the programme. The 6th Light Armored Brigade has become the first fully “SCORPIONized” brigade, serving as a model for how digitised and networked combat formations will operate in future high-intensity environments.

Each of the major SCORPION platforms reflects a substantial technological advance. The JAGUAR, with 35 delivered in 2024, is now deployed at the R2 standard, enabling full use of its digitised 40mm turret, including fire-on-the-move. The upcoming R3 standard, expected to qualify in 2025, will add capabilities such as in-flight missile redirection and airburst munitions.

Meanwhile, 151 GRIFFONs and 103 SERVALs were delivered in 2024 alone, demonstrating sustained production momentum. International interest in the programme is growing. Belgium’s CaMo programme is moving ahead, with GRIFFON assembly already underway in Belgium and first deliveries expected in 2025. Foreign delegations attending SCORPION Days are also examining doctrine, interoperability, digitised unit organisation and logistics support.

SCORPION Days therefore serves not only as a demonstration event, but as a statement: the French Army’s land forces are undergoing a profound transformation, combining industrial scale, battlefield digitisation and operational adaptability in a way few European programmes currently match.