370 VBCI Philoctete and used from Nexter for Greece?

For several years, the French company Nexter has made significant efforts to position itself in the replacement of armored vehicles in the intermediate segment and infantry fighting vehicles of the Greek Army, a market estimated at nearly 2 armored vehicles.

According to the Greek site Defensereview.gr, the French industrialist would have sent, a few days ago, a particularly attractive offer to Athens, relating to the local construction of 200 VBCI Philoctete armored infantry fighting vehicles, a version of the VBCI Mk2 specially designed for this market, and carrying, among other things, a T40 turret.

In addition to these 200 armored vehicles in infantry combat configuration, the offer would also concern the construction of 50 other VBCIs in different support configurations (sanitary, artillery observation, command, etc.).

Above all, it seems that Nexter offered the sale of 120 second-hand VBCIs, taken from the “reserves” of the French Army, in order to allow rapid transformation and increase in power of the Greek armies, which are implementing , today, in this segment, BMP-1A1s of Russian origin and German Marders, particularly dated armored vehicles.

Nexter’s Philoctete VBCI and its T40 turret

Designed specifically to appeal to the Greek armies, the VBCI Philoctetes also bears the name of a hero from ancient mythology, companion of Heracles and exceptional archer.

This is based on the new VBCI Mk2 of Nexter, which has joined forces, for the occasion, with the Greek Hellenic Defense Systems (HDS), to best meet the operational expectations of the Greek armies, as well asto the industrial expectations of Athens.

This 32-ton combat infantry fighting vehicle is powered by a new 600 hp Volvo turbo diesel engine, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of almost 19 hp per ton, and an axle load of eight tons. In fact, it maintains excellent mobility, including off-road, like the VBCI itself, while retaining the advantages of the wheel for long-distance travel.

In addition to the two crew members, a tank commander and a pilot, the armored vehicle transports eight soldiers equipped with high quality comfort and high protection, "among the best in its category", in the opinion of the Greek military. who tested it.

Above all, the Philoctete carries the T40 turret, armed with the 40 CTA cannon like the one which already equips the new EBRC Jaguar of the Army, as well as the Ajax of the British Army. Using telescoped 40 mm ammunition, the armored vehicle can fire up to 200 rounds per minute, 80 rounds in standard use, using different types of shells depending on the targets to be treated (arrow shell, explosive, smoke, anti-aircraft. .).

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