PARIS \u2014 Industry is expecting France to soon launch a tender worth an estimated total \u20ac250 million for two types of vehicles for its special operations forces, sources close to the deal said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The procurement reflects a need for a speedy equipping of the special forces, which have been widely engaged in foreign missions and have worn out the Panhard V\u00e9hicule de Patrouille Sp\u00e9ciale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The special forces can’t wait,” said a source who declined to be identified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tender comprises two orders, one worth \u20ac100 million and the other \u20ac150 million, a second source said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two sources said such a deal would be relatively <\/span>expensive for a relatively small order. But The deal may be relatively small but <\/span>a company that wins the bid could promote itself in the market as supplier to the elite French special forces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Defense Ministry will hold a tender to choose pick<\/span>a vehicle and develop it to meet special forces requirements, procurement chief Laurent Collet-Billon told journalists on Feb. 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No There is not an <\/span>off-the-shelf vehicle that <\/span>meets the specifications, which calls for two years of development, he said. The development will adapt the vehicle, which will then undergo a certification to show the weapons and radio will be fit for use, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The acquisition is being conducted by the s<\/span>Special forces command, the chief of the armed forces and the Direction G\u00e9n\u00e9rale de l’Armement procurement office will conduct the acquisition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I hope a solution can be found that meets the urgent needs of the operational forces and the realities of the procurement procedure,” French senator Jacques Gautier said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gautier, Daniel Reiner and G\u00e9rard Larcher co-wrote <\/span>a Senate report on the special forces published in May. An off-the-shelf acquisition of heavy and light vehicles was planned under the multiyear budget law, the report said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The special forces command has highly specific requirements, which makes it hard to find a vehicle already on the market, the sources said. Sources said There is also an assumption <\/span>the vehicle likely will be of French, not foreign, manufacture, the sources said<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the specifications is that two of the vehicles can be loaded on the C-130 Hercules transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Renault Trucks Defense (RTD), part of the Volvo group, has filed papers to qualify for the tender, which is expected to be launched soon, an industry executive said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n