The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has awarded a two-year contract to a consortium of Thales, Nexter and Sagem to handle the architecture phase of the Scorpion programme for the French army.

The €21m contract will create a dedicated company, MARS, which will ensure the capability and programme coherence of current and future equipment for combat units.

MARS is a vehicle through which the consortium will provide the French land forces with a range of skills, expertise in combat equipment, and a detailed understanding of current and future operational needs.

Scorpion is a project that unites several programmes to modernise the French army’s eight combined arms brigades.