Serval
Summary
| Origin country | 🇫🇷 France |
| Category | Armored Personnel Carrier |
| Sub-type | Multirole armoured personnel carrier |
| Manufacturer | KNDS France |
| Number built | 189 units |
| Est. avg unit price | $1.3 million |
Technical specifications
| Crew | 2 (driver + gunner) personnels |
| Range | 600 km |
| Mass | 17.0 tons |
| Height | 3.5 m (11.5 ft) |
| Width | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) |
| Length | 6.7 m (22.0 ft) |
| Max. speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) |
| Engine | Militarized Cummins 6-cylinder in-line diesel engine 375 hp (280 kW) |
| Weapon 1 | T2 Hornet Lite or T1 Hornet RWS with a 7.62 mm or a 12.7 mm machine gun |
| Weapon 2 | Akeron MP missiles, Mistral 3 missiles, ARX 30 RWS, MO-120 RT mortar, LLR 81mm mortar |
| Weapon 3 | GALIX self-protection system with 8 80 mm smoke grenade dischargers |
| Weapon 4 | T2 Hornet Lite RWS with a 7.62 mm machine gun |
Historical operators
Description
The Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle Léger (VBMR-L) Serval was developed by Nexter and Texelis following a development contract awarded in 2018. Designed to replace the aging Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (VAB), the Serval was conceived as a lighter complement to the heavy VBMR Griffon within the French Army's SCORPION modernization program. Its development was notably efficient, taking only three years by leveraging technological advancements from preceding vehicles in the same program to reduce costs and accelerate its entry into service.
The Serval is a highly maneuverable four-wheeled multirole platform specifically designed for operations in areas of direct contact with the enemy. It is a cornerstone of collaborative combat, fully integrated into the SCORPION network through advanced vetronics, threat detectors, and the SICS combat information system. The vehicle offers significant protection through high-level ballistic armor and the GALIX self-protection system, which can be further enhanced with modular armor kits. Armament is versatile, typically featuring remotely-operated, gyro-stabilized turrets equipped with machine guns, though specialized versions can carry medium-range missiles, surface-to-air systems, or even 30mm autocannons for anti-drone warfare. Its design emphasizes strategic mobility, allowing for rapid air deployment by carrying two combat-ready units in a single transport aircraft.
Entering active service in 2022, the Serval primarily equips light infantry units, such as airborne and mountain brigades, where its maneuverability is a critical asset. It is deployed in a wide array of configurations, ranging from armored patrol and tactical communications to electronic warfare and medical evacuation. Beyond its role in combat units, the vehicle has been selected to modernize support and backup resources under the VLTP-P high-protection segment. Internationally, the platform has begun to see adoption by European allies, with variants ordered for artillery command, observation teams, and headquarters squadrons, reinforcing its status as a versatile standard for modern light armored forces.