The first makeover of a armored of the Gendarmerie may already be bearing fruit. Heard by the defense commission of the National Assembly, Christian Rodriguez slipped interesting information to the deputies.
“The second version of the retrofitting of the armored wheeled vehicles of the gendarmerie (VBRG) gave interesting results, at entrusts the boss of the gendarmes to the deputies. And since we are talking about retrofit, it seems that the price of new gear is going down. ”
Contacted by The Rise, the Arquus company did not wish to comment, while specifying that there were many exchanges with the general management. The manufacturer, heir to Renault Trucks Defense, is a favorite in the event of a new purchase. Its range thus includes an armored vehicle suitable for maintaining order, the VAB MK 3.
Entered service in 1974
Notre-Dame-des-Landes, Yellow vests, New Caledonia referendum. On these three occasions, the valiant armored vehicles of the Gendarmerie, the VBRG, have recently proved to be indispensable. Having entered service in 1974 under the Berliet brand, they nevertheless show their age. Their renewal promises to be particularly costly. It is estimated in a range of 50 to 100 million euros.
The industrialist Turgis and Gaillard recently gave a facelift to an armored vehicle. The company pampered one of the Arms’ vehicles in Angoulême this fall. New engine, new gearbox, new bridge and additional armor were on the program. It is this retrofit that the Director General alluded to.
Read also: First makeover for the armored vehicles of the Gendarmerie
The idea of grooming the venerable armored vehicles was not unanimous, however. “The retrofitting supposes the cannibalization of certain vehicles and consequently a continuous decrease in the number of machines”, deplores an armored specialist of the Gendarmerie.
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