Through a statement issued on February 24 by Ireland’s Department of Defence, it was announced that the Irish Army would be equipped with new 4×4 and 6×6 armored vehicles stemming from the French SCORPION Program, after the Government identified France as the preferred partner within the so-called Armoured Fleet Programme. The decision, confirmed by the Irish Ministry of Defence, opens the door to formal negotiations under a government-to-government (G to G) scheme to modernize the land fleet and replace systems currently in service.
Defence Minister Helen McEntee confirmed on February 24 that France was selected following a detailed assessment of the options available on the market. According to the official, the Government approved moving forward with a State-to-State approach, and the Department of Defence will begin negotiations focused on the French SCORPION armored vehicle program. “Developing a modern armored fleet is a key priority within the €1.7 billion National Development Plan for the Defence Forces. My focus is to ensure that our personnel have the protection, mobility, and capability they need, both on national territory and on overseas missions,” McEntee stated.
The minister added that the step taken “supports the Government’s broader commitment to strengthening national security and modernizing Ireland’s Defence Forces,” and maintained that working directly with a trusted partner such as France makes it possible to reduce risks and ensure interoperable equipment. From the Executive, it was indicated that no contract has yet been awarded, and that the size of the fleet, the specific roles, delivery timelines, and costs will be defined during the next phase of negotiations, in accordance with European Union defence procurement rules and national infrastructure guidelines.
According to strategic analyses carried out between 2024 and 2025, the SCORPION program would currently be the only one capable of covering the full spectrum of capabilities required by Ireland. This program, developed by KNDS France, in temporary partnership with Arquus, Thales, Texelis, among others, encompasses the production of wheeled armored vehicles in different configurations, including 4×4 and 6×6 platforms intended for reconnaissance, troop transport, combat, and fire support, integrated under a common digital architecture that favors collaborative combat and interoperability.
According to converging sources, Dublin would be evaluating the acquisition of up to 400 vehicles to replace before 2030 a fleet considered aging and increasingly costly to maintain, composed of models such as the Piranha III of General Dynamics and the RG-32M from the South African manufacturer Denel. Among the platforms of interest are the EBRC Jaguar (armored reconnaissance and combat vehicle), the VBMR Griffon (multi-role armored troop transport vehicle), and the VBMR-L Serval (light multi-role armored vehicle), in addition to CAESAR artillery systems, all of them already in service with the French Army and developed within the framework of the SCORPION program.
The eventual agreement could be structured in several tranches and exceed €1 billion in total, although the final figures will depend on the ultimate scope of the contract. The formalization could coincide with a visit to Dublin by the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Catherine Vautrin, currently in preparation, with a possible window toward late March or early April. Ireland would seek to replicate a model similar to the Motorized Capability (CAMO) agreement implemented between France and Belgium, through which Brussels acquired more than 650 vehicles via the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA).
As a recent precedent in Europe, in December 2024 Luxembourg moved forward with the acquisition of EBRC Jaguar, VBMR Griffon, and VBMR-L Serval vehicles to form a new binational combat reconnaissance battalion, following the approval of a financing law for more than €2 billion by the Chamber of Deputies.
In this context, Ireland’s possible entry into the SCORPION program would mark a significant shift in its procurement policy, expanding its cooperation with the French defence industry and aiming to strengthen the protection, mobility, firepower, and interoperability capabilities of its Defence Forces in response to current operational demands.
*Images for illustrative purposes.
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