Armed Forces Unveil Centaur Armored Vehicle on July 14th
Military Parade on Champs-Élysées to Feature Centaur Armored Vehicles
On the 14th of July, during the national holiday celebrations, the Champs-Élysées will host a military parade that will feature 11 latest additions to the national gendarmerie's fleet – the Centaur armored vehicles. Originally developed and manufactured in Alsace by Soframe in 2022, these vehicles stand nearly 4 meters tall and weigh 12 tons.
The Centaurs, which have already been deployed for urban law enforcement operations, will be the stars of the show. After four weeks of training, the gendarmerie's squadron leaders, like Guillaume, can now operate these impressive armored vehicles with confidence. Their teams spent several weeks honing their skills in piloting the Centaurs, which was no easy task, according to Guillaume.
The Centaurs can accommodate three operators and seven passengers, offering advantages in terms of mobility, firing capacity, and ballistic protection. Ninety of these vehicles have been incorporated into the gendarmerie's fleet to enhance their ability to tackle urban violence.
While not directly related to this story, the Black Hornet nano-drone is a series of small, advanced drones developed by Prox Dynamics and now owned by Teledyne FLIR Defense. These drones, known for their high-resolution cameras, low visual/audible signature, and advanced obstacle avoidance systems, are widely used by military forces worldwide, including the US Army and the British Army. However, there is no clear evidence indicating that the Black Hornet is used by the French army alongside the Centaur armored vehicle.
The Champs-Élysées parade on the 14th of July will showcase both the modern Centaurs and older-generation armored vehicles, with the Centaurs taking center stage. Previously, the Centaurs had paraded in 2024 on the Avenue Foch due to the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, but this time, they will be the main attraction.
Related Topics: army, national security, gendarmerie.
Apprenticeship opportunities could arise within the gendarmerie as squadron leaders like Guillaume have undergone a four-week training program to operate the Centaur armored vehicles. Sports teams might find the Centaurs' mobility and firing capacity beneficial during their training exercises, providing an unique advantage in simulated urban conflict scenarios.
