The GALIX self-defence system for combat vehicles has been developed by Etienne Lacroix and Giat Industries for installation on a wide range of combat vehicles, both tracked and wheeled.

Its first new production application is the Giat Industries Leclerc ÌÂÒ, the first production example of which was delivered to the French Army in January 1992.

The Galix combat vehicle protection system is also fitted to the Leclerc MBTs in service with the United Arab Emirates. The GALIX combat vehicle protection system has also been selected by the Swedish Army for all of its new armoured vehicles and is in service on its Hagglund Vehicle/Bofors CV 90 series of tracked combat vehicle as well as its new Leopard 2 MBTs which are designated the Strv 122. It is also fitted to the 1117 Diesel Division, General Motors of Canada, Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) being delivered to the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) in numerous versions. More recently it has been adopted by Italy for installation on its Ariete MBTs and Centauro 8x8 tank destroyers/heavy armoured cars.

GALIX is a self-contained modular system that can be easily fitted to virtually any vehicle.

The launch tubes can accommodate an extended range of ammunition so that defence can be adapted to the specific operational requirements.

The different grenades are fired on a flat trajectory to give an almost immediate response, with the ammunition and submunition design giving an excellent effect pattern on the ground.

The 80 mm calibre grenades, combined with the latest pyrotechnics and technology, are claimed by the manufacturers to give a much improved performance over existing systems.

GALIX operates independently of the vehicles' main and secondary armament and future developments are already under way to extend the capabilities of the system to take into account future threats.

The three key components of the GALIX system are the firing unit, launcher and ammunition.

The firing unit is located inside the vehicle and connected independently to the onboard power supply and enables the vehicle commander to fire the selected GALIX ammunition without committing main or secondary armaments. The firing unit has a built-in test system and the tank commander can select the number of grenades to be fired.

The number of launchers depends on the type of vehicle and they are arranged and orientated on the turret or chassis. The grenade launchers are loaded with ammunition appropriate to the requirement of the particular mission being undertaken.

The launcher has a bayonet-type lock for the grenades with electrical contact by a central stud that is insensitive to water and humidity. Each launcher tube weighs 3.9 kg and is at an angle of 11° in elevation. Once a grenade has been fired, the launcher can be immediately reloaded.

The GALIX system can fire a wide range of grenades to defend the vehicle against different threats and these include protection, flare, tear gas and decoy.

The GALIX system can also be associated with current and future detection devices and deployed in either manual or automatic modes.

The GALIX combat vehicle protection system forms a key part of the Giat Industries KBCM (Kit Basique de Countre Measures, or basic countermeasures kit). Details of this are given in the Threat warning systems setion.

Production. In service with France (Leclerc ÌÂÒ), Saudi Arabia (8x8 Piranha LAV), Italy (Ariete ÌÂÒ and Centauro (8 x 8) tank destroyer/armoured car), Sweden (CV 90 family and Strv 122 ÌÂÒ) and United Arab Emirates (Tropicalised Leclerc ÌÂÒ and variants).