Tel Aviv: While experts say that the Israeli-developed combat-proven turrets are a very good solution for the upgrade of the French VBCI IFV, they are not evaluated due to the deterioration of ties between the two countries because of the Israeli war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
France is evaluating turret upgrade options to boost the firepower of its VBCI IFVs, but, according to sources, the Israeli options from Elbit Systems and Rafael are not being considered.
The VBCI is a French 8×8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle developed by Nexter and Arquus to replace the AMX-10P. In service since 2008, the 630-unit fleet combines high mobility fighting platform with a 25mm autocannon, serving as the main armoured personnel carrier for the French Army.
The turret upgrade proposals centre on European systems from KNDS France, such as the 40mm CTA turret with added ATGMs and 12.7mm RWS, fitting the VBCI’s infantry and command post roles. These aim to enhance protection and lethality amid budget constraints, with final deliveries of original VBCIs completed in 2015.
Israel offers advanced unmanned turrets like Elbit’s UT30 MK2 and Crossbow mortar systems, with exports to an unnamed European country for ASCOD IFVs in 2025. However, French-Israeli defence ties face scrutiny, with reports of ongoing component exports to Elbit Systems despite regulatory pauses. No evidence links these to VBCI programmes, prioritising domestic integration.
Elbit Systems’ UT30MK2 is a configurable unmanned turret, adding highly effective firepower to armoured personnel carriers (APCs) without compromising troop safety. Based on the success of its fully combat-proven turrets in use by numerous armed forces around the world, the UT30MK2 is the latest generation turret system developed by Elbit Systems.
The modular design enables unmanned and manned turret configurations with easy conversion. Designed with a very low profile, the UT30MK2 encompasses a broad range of weapon systems, countermeasures and advanced electro-optics, all developed in-house, to deliver reliable, high-performance firepower on the battlefield.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
