Joint Offerings with John Cockerill Defense
Nexter Group is exhibiting at HEMUS 2020 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, this week on a joint stand with Belgian turret and weapons specialist John Cockerill Defense (JCD).
The two companies will be showcasing a VBCI 8×8 armoured vehicle mounting a Cockerill 30mm 3030 turret, emphasising the Motorized Capability (CaMo) programme recently implemented with Belgium, which could serve as a model for Europe, in the companies’ view. CaMo, awarded to Nexter last year, covers the supply of 382 GRIFFON personnel carriers and 60 JAGUAR reconnaissance vehicles to the Belgian Land Component under an intergovernmental agreement between France and Belgium that not only seals a strategic alliance but also solidifies a long-term partnership between their manufacturing industries.
Three Nexter Group subsidiaries will exhibit at HEMUS:
• Nexter Systems will unveil several mock-ups
o The VBCI 3030 benefits jointly from Nexter’s know-how in terms of armoured vehicles and integration, and JCD’s expertise in turrets. In recent years, the VBCI has been successfully used by the French Army in several theatres of operation, including Afghanistan, Sahel and the Central African Republic.
o A version of the 6×6 TITUS armoured vehicle mounting a Nexter ARX20 turret.
o Two models of the CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzer are also presented, in 6×6 and 8×8 configurations. Its combat experience – the longest and most varied in the 52-calibre class – mean CAESAR enjoys an excellent reputation and has become a benchmark in international artillery: recently, Denmark and Morocco selected it to renew their fire support capabilities.
• Nexter Robotics will demonstrate the robots of the NERVA range and their associated modules. The French Armament Procurement Agency (DGA) evaluated these micro-robots, ordering 56 units last year as part of the SCORPION programme.
• Nexter Munitions is exhibiting several families of ammunition, ranging from 20-155mm. Among them is the family of 155mm LU rounds, (explosives, smoke, illumination) and the BONUS intelligent round now equipping many NATO armies. The stand also features medium-calibre ammunition, 81mm and 120mm grenades and 76mm naval ammunition.
In addition, there will be three medium-calibre Nexter turret models display: the SH20 and NC621 pod for aeronautical use, and the NARWHAL for naval use. These mounts are used in some 60 countries.
