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Feb 5 2025

OCCAR VBAE Programme Progress: Preliminary Architecture Established

Paris/France February 2025 - The future light armoured vehicle ‘VBAE’ is being developed within the framework of a cooperation agreement between France and Belgium for land capabilities. OCCAR has placed a predesign contract for the concept and preliminary architecture with a consortium comprising the French companies ARQUUS and KNDS France, and John Cockerill Defence (JCD) from Belgium as a major subcontractor.

On 17 January 2025, the VBAE preliminary architecture was successfully established. This sets the foundations for further optimisation studies addressing technical, operational and financial aspects that will be carried out throughout 2025.

The optimisation studies will aim to demonstrate the added value of VBAE over existing vehicles in this segment and allow both France and Belgium to decide on the further detailed design.

About the OCCAR VBAE Programme:

For France, the VBAE is a potential replacement for the cavalry vehicle VBL in service in the French army since 1991. For Belgium, the VBAE represents a next step in the development of its motorised capability by reinforcing its control, recon and commandment capacity. The VBAE will have different versions with different levels of firepower and sensors, depending on the vehicle mission.

See more here:

OCCAR - VBAE