Renault is designing the vehicle in 6×6 and 8×8 configurations to support a ‘family of vehicles’ approach, comprising an armored personnel carrier, infantry combat vehicle, scout vehicle, command post, ambulance, weapon carrier (missiles, mortars, anti-tank and anti-aircraft), specialist vehicle (combat engineers, NBC, artillery observation) etc. The vehicle is designed to transport 11 soldiers, in addition to the vehicle’s crew members. This payload capacity will be utilized for add-on armor kits and mission payload. At a gross vehicle weight of 22 tons, the AMC’s curb weight will almost equal its payload carrying capability. The design combines high level protection (ballistic, IED, mine and RPG) with good cross country performance (tactical mobility) and transportability (strategic mobility), large payload capacity and unobstructed internal volume. AMC is positioned by Renault as the next medium armored vehicle, a future replacement for the French Vehicule de l’Avant Blinde (VAB). The Armored Multirole Carrier (AMC) from Renault is the company’s candidate for the Scorpion program. Three vehicle manufacturers planned to highlight their Scorpion candidate platforms at Eurosatory, but only one (Panhard) actually displayed a vehicle in the open. Photo: Defense Update Two models of 6×6 vehicles proposed by Nexter for the VBMR and ERBC. The Scorpion program aims at fielding new families of vehicles replacing aging systems currently operational with the Army light and rapid deployment regiments, with further enhancement of current platforms employed with the heavy regiments (Leclerc Main Battle Tanks and VBCI infantry carriers.) As part of the Scorpion initiative all future elements will become networked, provided with advanced unmanned systems, intelligence gathering, observation and target acquisition, as well as precision guided weapons for combat units and combat support (artillery, mortars etc.) Renault considers its AMC as the leading candidate to replace all vehicle types in the Scorpion family, particularly ERBC and VBMR. However, Scorpion, among other French military modernization initiatives fell prey to a 5 billion euro cut in government spending, leaving long lead programs stranded until budget is released. Gearing for the French Army next big programs, vehicle manufacturers at Eurosatory were hopeful to learn about the defense ministry’s selection of the Scorpion system architect, a decision that would have set the program in motion.
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