Luxembourg Approves $2.74 Billion in Armored Vehicles for Joint NATO Battalion
29 November, 2024 Jaguar, Griffon and Serval armored vehicles during a demonstration. Photo from the network The Luxembourg Parliament has approved the purchase of armored vehicles worth £2.74 billion for a new binational battalion.
The Belgian publication Forces Operations Blog reported on this. The procurement is part of the SCORPION program and is intended to ensure that Luxembourg and Belgium form a joint reconnaissance battalion. The battalion will be formed in stages and is expected to reach full readiness in 2030.
For this purpose, 16 VBMR Griffon multi-purpose armoured personnel carriers, 38 EBRC Jaguar armored reconnaissance and combat vehicles and 5 Serval VBMR light multi-purpose armored vehicles were ordered.
French Jaguar armored reconnaissance and combat vehicles. Photo credits: Nexter
In addition to the 59 combat units, the purchase of nearly 130 vehicles and trailers required to support them is also envisaged. Delivery of the equipment is expected to begin in 2028.
The French engineering regiment receives the first Griffon multi-purpose armoured personnel carrier.
Photo credits: Nexter/Arquus/Thales
This military procurement was the largest in the history of Luxembourg, and in addition to the purchase of equipment, it also provides for its future mid-life modernization and support for thirty years.
Serval light multi-purpose armored vehicle
"This project is a clear sign that Luxembourg takes its commitments and solidarity with NATO and the European Union very seriously. This is an investment in our defense capabilities.
Our soldiers, who are ready to defend our freedom, deserve everyone's respect," stated Luxembourg's Minister of Defense Yuriko Backes. The plans to purchase armored vehicles were first announced in May 2024. Back then, at a press conference, the Minister of Defense presented a bill that provided for the allocation of 2.6 billion euros for the purchase of vehicles between 2025 and 2033 and their operation until 2055.
Binational Battalion
The creation of the new binational battalion is part of NATO's strengthening program approved in 2021.
The agreement on its creation was signed in June 2023. It is planned that the battalion will consist of 700 soldiers, with an initial deployment in the Belgian city of Marche-en-Famenne, and additional facilities in Arlon, Belgium, and Diekirch, Luxembourg. The battalion will consist of 4 companies, each consisting of 4 platoons, which in turn will be divided into 4 squads.
Two out of the four companies of the future battalion will be equipped with vehicles from the SCORPION program. One of the squads will be based on a pair of Jaguar-EAGLE V, until the new armored engagement support vehicle (VBAE) is developed in Franco-Belgian cooperation. Two more Jaguar vehicles will be used for training and the rest will be used as backup.
Prototype of a new communication and reconnaissance vehicle based on the Luxembourg Army's EAGLE V. October 2024. Photo credits: Directorate of Defence of Luxembourg
The Griffon APCs will mainly serve as command posts: two for each company and four for the battalion headquarters.
Two more vehicles are intended for forward observers (JTAC), one for snipers, and the rest for the maintenance unit.
As for the Serval, two of them will guard the headquarters, two more will be distributed among the companies, and the last one will be used for training.