PARIS — Nexter put on display its demonstrator for a two-man 40mm CTA gun turret developed under a risk reduction contract for the French DGA defense procurement office.

The Direction Générale de l’Armement procurement office awarded the risk reduction contract Dec. 17, 2010, with delivery of the turret demonstrator due at the end of 2012, a Nexter spokeswoman said.

Optronics features heavily in the turret design, with a three-camera system from Optsys, a Nexter subsidiary, offering a 360° visual capability, and electro-optical equipment from Sagem.

Nexter designed the turret around the 40 mm gun from Anglo-French joint venture CTA International, equally owned by BAE Systems and Nexter. The gun uses the compact case-telescoped ammunition.

The Nexter turret can carry two anti-tank missiles such as the planned French Army’s missile moyenne portée (MMP) from MBDA.

The Nexter turret is in direct competition with the 40 mm gun turret from Lockheed Martin UK, mounted on the Panhard Sphinx demonstrator, also on display at the Eurosatory show.

Lockheed is integrating the CTAI gun on the British Army’s Warrior upgrade program and the new scout specialist vehicle under development by General Dynamics UK.

Nexter and Panhard hope their turrets will be selected for the French Army’s planned engin blindé de reconnaissance et combat (EBRC) light tank.