The French Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that an order placement for procurement of 530 Serval 4x4 wheeled armoured vehicles for the French Army.
This purchase, exceeding €1bn ($1.03bn), is a part of the SCORPION programme, which aims to revolutionise the French military's capabilities.
The programme encompasses the production and supply of the GRIFFON, JAGUAR, and SERVAL vehicles, as well as the modernisation of the LECLERC Main Battle Tank (MBT).
It includes the integration of drones and robots into the combat system, enhanced communication with infantry, and the management of various sensors.
Initial deliveries of Serval vehicles are predicted for delivery from 2025 to 2031.
This procurement is anticipated to stimulate production activities across several locations including Bourges, Limoges, Plessis-Robinson, Roanne, Satory, and Toulon.
It will also engage a vast network of subcontractors.
French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated in a X post that: “An investment in our rearmament of more than a billion euros, provided for in the military programming law, which will mobilise the activity of our defence industry in Roanne, Bourges, Limoges, Satory, Plessis-Robinson and Toulon, as well as a vast network of subcontractors.”
The Serval, categorised as a light armoured multi-role vehicle (Light VBMR), is designed to support light units in the contact zone, particularly during the early stages of operations under diverse conditions.
To effectively execute its designated tasks, the Serval is available in three versions: the armoured patrol vehicle (VPB), the tactical communication node (NCT), and the surveillance, acquisition, intelligence, acknowledgment (SA2R).
Earlier in 2024, the French Army procurement agency (DGA) placed an order for 30 Serval DSA (Défense Sol-Air, or ground-to-air defence) 4x4 armoured vehicles.
In addition, in July of 2023, France's DGA commissioned 30 ground-based Syracuse IV satellite communication terminals from Thales.
These stations act as tactical communication nodes during halts, linking the French Army’s Serval armoured vehicles to the Syracuse IV satellite constellation.
A report by GlobalData titled “France Defense Market 2024-2029” outlines that France's current defence budget is at $60.4bn and is projected to increase to $67.8bn by 2029, representing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 1.4% over the next five years.
The acquisitions budget is expected to mirror this upward trajectory, having expanded at a CAGR of 5.4% over the historic period.
