The French defense procurement agency DGA and the French Army have officially received the first four Serval light armored vehicles.
These first units were delivered to the Combined Arms Combat Preparation Support Center – 51st Infantry Regiment (CAPCIA-51eRI), in Mourmelon (Marne).
Built in Roanne, in the Nexter production plant, Serval is one of four armored vehicle designs being procured by France to renew its fleet as part of the Scorpion program. In addition to the Servals, France is also receiving the Griffon multi-role heavy armored vehicles (VBMR) and Jaguar combat and reconnaissance armored vehicles.
The Serval is a 15-ton multi-role armored vehicle which integrates various equipment common to other Scorpion vehicles, especially the electronic core, a turret remotely operated from the passenger compartment, threat sensors and the Scorpion combat information system (SICS).
Available in three main versions (patrol, intelligence and reconnaissance, and communications relay), Serval is designed to operate in combat zones, and will complement the Griffon and Jaguar vehicles.
Nexter and Texelis received the contract for the first 364 Servals in late 2020. A total of 12 units are expected to be delivered in the first half of 2022, with another 96 scheduled for delivery in the second half of the year.
According to DGA, the goal is to have 978 Serval vehicles delivered by 2030.
