On Friday, December 8, 2023, Belgium’s Minister of Defense, Ludivine Dedonder, approved the purchase of a series of artillery systems to enhance the operational capabilities of the Belgian army. Among these systems is the MEPAC, a mobile mortar system based on the Griffon 6×6 armored vehicle, equipped with a 120mm mortar. A total of 24 MEPAC mortar vehicles will be acquired by Belgium and will replace the existing battery of 120 mm mortars – currently towed by DINGO 2 4×4 armored vehicles and modernize it into two batteries of two MEPAC platoons each.
Under a contract that was signed in 2018, the Belgian Army is set to receive 382 Griffon 6×6 multi-role armored vehicles. These vehicles are scheduled to come into service between 2025 and 2030 and will be totally compatible with their French counterparts, equipped according to the Scorpion program.
The Griffon armored vehicle, developed as part of France’s Scorpion program, is a multi-role armored vehicle designed to replace VAB 6×6 armored vehicle with the French Army. First vehicles entered in service with the French army in 2019. It is a 24.5-ton 6×6 wheeled armored vehicle, equipped with a variety of weapon systems including a remotely operated turret, and designed for a range of missions with variants such as troop transport, command post, artillery observation, and medical evacuation. The Griffon is noted for its robustness, all-terrain mobility, and advanced protection features against ballistic threats, mines, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).