Oct 2012 Compendium 1 - Armada

An Oshkosh L-ATV being unloaded from
a C130 Hercules. The vehicle has been
developed in successive phases and has
now logged over 40,000 km. (Oshkosh)
As part of the Phase 2 of the
Scorpion programme (Synergie du
Contact Renforcé par la Polyvalence et
l’Infovalorisation) that will bring the
French Armée de Terre into a new era,
is a light vehicle with peculiar mobility
and firepower characteristics known as
the VBAE (for Véhicule Blindé d’Aide
à l’Engagement). This will not only
cover the scout mission needs of heavier
vehicles such as the Leclerc main battle
tank, but also provide means for cavalrytype
missions such as screening, flanking
and so on, missions that require both
a high level of mobility and sufficient
firepower. The role of this new vehicle
thus well exceeds that of the VBL
(Véhicule Blindé Léger) introduced by
Panhard over 25 years ago and which
currently provides the “eyes” to French
Army armoured formations. Based in
Marolles (south of Paris), the firm which
incidentally became Panhard General
Defense in 2006, unveiled its proposal
for the VBAE programme at the last
Eurosatory exhibition and named it
Featured on our cover, the Crab unveiled
at Eurosatory 2012 carries a number of
very special features and, apart from its
25mm CTI turret which makes it one of
the most heavily armed light armoured
vehicles, can move sideways like a crab.
(Armada/PV)
06 armada Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2012
the Crab (Combat Reconnaissance
Armoured Buggy).
pANHARd cRAB: In its initial version
the Crab will have a three-man crew, the
same as the VBL, but similarities end here.
First of all its combat weight is nearly
thrice that of the original VBL’s, which was
set at three tonnes for air-transportability
purposes. In the configuration shown
at Eurosatory the Crab tipped the
scales at 8.5 tonnes, but the automotive
components could cope with an inflation
to 10 tonnes without impairing mobility
(that is a lesson learned from the VBL
where the increased combat weight had
reduced the original vehicle’s mobility).
Mobility is an integral part of the Crab
global survivability, which also combines
Oshkosh was not selected for the first
phase of the JLTV bid but is now taking
part in the new bid with its Light combat
tactical All Terrain Vehicle. (Oshkosh)
protection and stealthiness.
One of the key elements of mobility
is power-to-weight ratio. Currently
Panhard is considering two different
engines for its Crab, both ensuring a
minimum of 35 hp/t for an 8.5 tonne
combat weight, which means an output
of about 300 hp. Horses can be increased
when needed thanks to a 400-Amp
starter-alternator that can not only
provide an additional shove when needed,
but also enable the Crab to silently creep
over short distances using the electric
energy stored in its batteries (two solar
cell panels are installed on the two
sides on the rear of the vehicle to assist
recharging the batteries in daylight). The
Crab’s stealthiness is further increased
by the reduced shape of the vehicle, its