In 1988, Giat Industries announced that it was offering an armour upgrade package for its 90 mm armed TS 90 turret which is fully described in the AFV Turrets and Cupolas section.

The TS 90 turret, like most other turrets of this type, provides the commander and gunner with protection from small arms and some shell splinters only. Recent combat experience has shown that many turrets of this type can be penetrated by small arms fire at close range, especially when the vehicles are being used in an urban situation.

Giat Industries is now offering an up-armouring package for the TS 90 turret that can stop 12.7 mm armour-piercing rounds fired at a range of 100 m from any angle, up to 20 mm OPT projectiles fired over the frontal arc and the 14,5 mm Armour-Piercing (AP) projectile from any angle on the turret side.

Giat Industries has now developed two types of add-on armour for the TS 90 turret, one with a high-strength steel base and the other employing a ceramic tile base on a metal support. Each panel is light enough to be replaced by one man in the field.

As the Giat Industries armour packages are designed to fit on the mantlet, sides and rear, the original silhouette has not changed. The average weight of the kit is about 300 kg so mobility is hardly affected.