French Connection
Renault has returned to the military vehicle market with passion and commitment…
Between the completion of production for the French Army in 1999 of the TRM 10000 (6x6) 10,000kg tactical truck and the introduction of the Sherpa tactical range in 2004, Renault’s military truck offerings had been limited to mildly militarised versions of the Kerax commercial range. Renault, still commonly perceived as a French company, was in fact acquired by Sweden’s Volvo Group in 2001, and following this acquisition appears to have felt obliged to mirror its new parent company’s low level of interest in the military market. However, by 2003 Renault was breaking free of its new owners shackles, and was busy developing what would become the Sherpa range of tactical trucks. The Sherpa range evolved from interest shown in the combined Renault/French Army upgrade of 1960s vintage Berliet GBC 8KT (6x6) 4-tonne trucks. The original GBC 8KT refurbishment/upgrade contract was awarded in 1997 and covered some 2,800 trucks. Further awards followed,
30 G3 DEFENCE
and the last of 5,600 Renault GBC 180 (designation for a refurbished/upgraded GBC 8KT) are currently being returned to the French Army.
The first of the Sherpa range to be developed was the Sherpa 5, which at the early stages of its development was likely to be a new-build GBC 180. However, it soon became clear a vehicle with further increased capability was required, and the design evolved. Early in the development process the decision to develop a larger (approx. 10-tonne payload) version of the Sherpa 5 was taken, and the Sherpa 10 was developed. Larger Sherpa 15 and Sherpa 20 chassis were then subsequently developed, and this all-bonneted range (Sherpa 5 (6x6), 10 (6x6), 15 (6x6) and 20 (8x8)) was first displayed publicly by Renault Trucks Defence at Eurosatory 2004. Ultimately the Sherpa 15 and 20 would not reach maturity. Renault’s all-important first Sherpa order was placed mid-
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