The French defense procurement agency has delivered the first of 54 MEPAC armored vehicles to the country’s army.
It was handed over to the Satory detachment of the 8th Equipment Regimen, responsible for ensuring the army’s military equipment remains operational.
The acronym MEPAC stands for Mortier Embarqué Pour l’Appui au Contact, a self-propelled mortar system based on the Griffon multi-role armored platform manufactured by a consortium comprising KNDS France, Thales, and Arquus.
Ten more vehicles will arrive this year following the first delivery in late December, with the whole fleet expected by the end of 2028 as part of the service’s Scorpion program to modernize the military’s capabilities.
Each platform is equipped with the common Scorpion vetronics, referring to the electronic systems integrated into military vehicles.
Additionally, it is integrated with the army’s Combined Arms Tactical Group through real-time information sharing among units that the French defense ministry dubbed as “infovalorisation.”
A total of 24 vehicles are also bound for Belgium as part of the CaMo (Motorized Capacity) partnership and to enhance interoperability between the Belgian and French armed forces.
Vehicle Specifications
The all-terrain MEPAC is designed to provide rapid indirect fire support in close-contact scenarios.
It is equipped with Thales’ 120-millimeter 2R2M semi-automatic mortar, which is fully integrated into the French Army’s ATLAS artillery chain, enabling precise, high rates of fire.
In addition, the vehicle is fitted with a remotely operated turret with a 7.62-millimeter armament produced by Arquus.
The multi-role armored vehicle, weighing 24,500 kilograms (54,013 pounds), is operated by a crew of four soldiers.
