ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2

ChieftainWarrior · June 20, 2026, 3:33am

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ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2

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TL;DR: An improved version of the ERC 90 Sagaie, featuring a stabilised 90mm CN 90 F4 cannon, as well as an improved hull and mobility

Note:
The ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2 was never operated by France — the sole operator is Gabon. This suggestion is for a Gabonese-operated Sagaie 2. See my suggestion for the second prototype of the Sagaie 2 (link) for a potential second vehicle (as a French-operated researchable counterpart to a premium / event Gabonese-operated variant)

History
The ERC (Engin de Reconnaissance à Canon) is a six-wheeled French armoured car developed by Panhard. It was designed as a heavier, six-wheeled alternative to the AML (automitrailleuse légère). Development began in 1975, on the basis of the company’s new 6x6 APC, the VCR (Véhicule de Combat à Roues). The VCR / ERC family was first shown in 1977 at Satory VI. The ERC was offered in two main armed versions (alongside various support and anti-air variants): the ERC 90 F1 Lynx and the ERC 90 F4 Sagaie. The F1 Lynx variant mounted the Lynx turret, an improved version of the H 90 seen on vehicles like the AML 90. The ERC 90 F4 Sagaie (French for Assegai, a spear / polearm used by various peoples in southern Africa) was armed with the new TS 90 turret, housing a longer, higher velocity 90mm cannon.

The ERC quickly received attention, due to its promising design, and Panhard had already received mass production orders by 1977–78. The French Army tested the ERC 90 F4 Sagaie from 1978–80, and accepted it into service that same year. First deliveries were made in 1982, and 40 vehicles, out of an order of 176, had been delivered by 1985. The ERC 90 F4 Sagaie would go on to be exported to a number of nations, such as Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Chad, while the Lynx would see service in Mexico, as well as Nigeria and Argentina.

1. French Army ERC 90 F4 Sagaie during firing exercises at Mailly-Le-Camp range in 2016; 2. Mexican Army ERC 90 F1 Lynx during exercises in Chihuahua in 2022

Back in the early 1980s, Panhard realised that multiple potential customers (such as Saudi Arabia) preferred automatic gearboxes and diesel engines, as opposed to the manual gearboxes and petrol engines of the VCR / ERC. As such, they began developing a new variant of the ERC and VCR, dubbed the ‘C’ range. In order to improve power-to-weight ratios while also saving weight, Panhard decided to integrate twin engines into the new vehicles. This resulted in the creation of the Sagaie 2 (sometimes written as Sagaie II instead) and VCR 2, both of which could be fitted with either two XD3T diesel engines or two PRV V6 petrol engines.

This improved hull was also the perfect opportunity to improve the firepower of the Sagaie. In 1983, Panhard had displayed a prototype of the Sagaie, fitted with a stabilised main gun in the TTB 190 turret. The increased weight put strain on the light chassis, and the power-to-weight ratio was deemed too low. The Sagaie 2 was first displayed at Satory X in 1985. While armed with the same TTB 190 turret as the ERC 90 F4 Sagaie variant displayed in 1983, it featured a new, longer, wider hull, in order to accomodate the aformentioned twin engines and cope with the new turret. Two prototypes had been built by 1985 — one with petrol engines, and one without. Details regarding the two prototypes (and whether anymore were built) are scarce, but based on the available information and images, it appears that the first prototype (henceforth designated P1) was fitted with the petrol engines. The second prototype (P2) was fitted with the diesel engines, as well as a newly designed ‘extra-low’ chassis, larger 13.00x16 tyres (believed to be retrofitted onto P1), and modified side bins.

What appears to be the first prototype of the Sagaie 2, as seen in International Defense Review 1/1985. Note the slightly different hull shape, lack of sidebins, and different smoke grenade configuration compared to the second prototype

The Sagaie 2 was offered in two other versions: an amphibious variant, with waterjets, or a desert variant, without waterjets. In the case of the former, the side bins would be fitted with foam, whereas they would be used for storage on the latter. Both P1 and P2 were built in the amphibious configuration. The two prototypes also had a number of minor differences between each other, not least of which were slightly altered turrets (P1 had four 76mm smoke grenade launchers on either side, as opposed to P2’s two 80mm smoke grenade launchers).

The turret — the SAMM (Société d’Applications des Machines Motrices) TTB 190 — is armed with a two-plane stabilised 90mm CN 90 F4 main gun. Two fire control systems were offered: the SFIM/OIP FCS, with a periscopic gun sight and an integrated laser rangefinder, or the SOPELEM FCS, with a mantlet-mounted telescopic gunner’s sight and an independent laser rangefinder. It appears that both prototypes were fitted with the SFIM/OIP FCS. At least one prototype underwent trials in Saudi Arabia in 1985, and was reportedly fitted with a thermal imager, although details on which vehicle and type of sight are not known.

What appears to be Prototype 1, on display at an arms exhibition (possibly Satory X)

While the Sagaie with the TS 90 turret was adopted by a number of countries, including France, the Sagaie 2, despite the significant improvements in performance, saw very limited success. The sole country that took interest in the vehicle was Gabon. The Gabonese Army are not, and have never been, equipped with any main battle tanks — they have always favoured light, wheeled armoured vehicles. At least one reason for this is Gabon’s harsh terrain, roughly 88% of which is rainforest.

Gabon gained their independence in 1960. According to SIPRI, Gabon obtained 15 Panhard M3 APCs in 1961, followed by 6 AML 90s in 1968. They obtained 18 more AMLs in 1980 (8x AML 60, 10x AML 90), followed shortly after by 14 EE-9 Cascavel’s from Brazil in 1983. In 1985, Gabon placed an order for six ERC 90 Sagaie 2 alongside four ERC 20 Kriss (some sources say 9–10 Sagaie 2 were ordered, but this seems to be confusion with the ERC 20 Kriss). The ERC 20 Kriss ordered by Gabon, unlike the prototypes, also used the upgraded Sagaie 2 chassis, giving a total of 10 Sagaie 2 hulls produced for Gabon. All six ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2 appear to remain in service today, although sightings of the ERC 20 Kriss are rare and it is difficult to tell if they also remain in service.

The production ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2 during a parade in Gabon shortly after their arrival, sometime in the late 1980s

Little information is available about the production models in Gabonese service. However, the few images that do exist provide us with enough information about the differences between them and the earlier prototypes. Namely, they:

have a grill across the front headlights
have baskets on either side of the turret, enclosing the smoke grenade launchers
have different tyres
lack the waterjets / amphibious capability
lack the roof-mounted 7.62mm machine gun

Aside from the lack of waterjets and 7.62mm MG, the production variant is identical in performance to the second prototype.

Gabonese ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2 surrounded by civilians shortly after the 2023 coup d’état

Characteristics
The ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2 is fitted with the TTB 190 turret, armed with a two-plane stabilised 90mm CN 90 F4 cannon. This is the same gun on the MARS 15 in-game, and is also used on a number of other French armoured vehicles, albeit without a stabiliser. The CN 90 F4 is able to fire a number of different rounds, including OFL 90 F1 APFSDS, which penetrates 277mm @ 0° @ 10m (in-game figures), OCC 90 F2 HEAT-FS, which penetrates 350mm @ 0°, OE 90 F1 HE, which penetrates 18mm @ 0°, and OFUM 90 F1 smoke. 33 rounds are carried in total, 23 of which are in the turret. The turret is fitted with a semi-automatic loading mechanism: 10 rounds are stored in a ready-rack, 8 of which are in a manually-operated drum magazine that brings them close to the breech. 13 rounds are stored in a rear turret rack, and the remaining 10 rounds are stored in the hull. The semi-automatic loading mechanism is advertised as permitting a rate of fire of up to 10 rounds / minute (6s reload).

The TTB 190 on display. This is a slightly earlier variant, with a different muzzle brake to that used on production CN 90 F4 cannons

As secondary armament, the ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2 is armed with a coaxial 12.7mm M2 HMG, for which 600 rounds are carried. It is also fitted with four 80mm smoke grenade launchers (2x2).

The TTB 190 fitted to the ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2 is equipped with the SFIM/OIP fire control system. The commander has the day/night AERITALIA periscopic P 204 sight, with a fixed x8 magnification. The gunner is equipped with the LRS 5 periscopic day/night (second-generation light intensifier) gunsight, with x8 (day) and x4 (night) magnification. The FCS also includes a laser rangefinder, with a range of up to 9,900m. The TTB 190, as fitted to the ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2, has an electric gunlaying drive, allowing for a maximum horizontal traverse speed of 35°/s. The gun can elevate from -8° to + 15° at 17°/s.

Gabonese ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2 during a parade celebrating 55 years of independence in 2015

The ERC 90 is lightly armoured — the hull protects against only small arms fire and shell splinters, and is around 10mm thick all-round. The TTB 190 turret, on the other hand, provides slightly better protection. It is frontally resistant to 14.5mm rounds, and resistant to 7.62mm rounds (at least) all-round.

The ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2 has a combat weight of 10t. It is fitted with two XD3T diesel engines, producing 196hp total, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 19.6hp/t. The ZF automatic transmission gives it four forward gears and one reverse gear. It could reach a maximum speed of 110km/h, and 7.2km/h in water. It carries three crew: a commander, gunner, and driver. The vehicle has a six wheel drive, but the middle wheels can be lifted with hydraulic suspension.

Gabonese ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2 surrounded by civilians shortly after the 2023 coup d’état

Conclusion
The ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2 would be an excellent addition to the French tech tree, armed with a familiar 90mm gun but upgraded with a stabiliser, on a nimble wheeled chassis. It would likely go at a BR of 9.0. The Gabonese-operated production variant could be added as a premium / event vehicle, with the near-identical second prototype added as a researchable vehicle (or vice versa).

An example of how the ERC 90 F4 Sagaie 2 could be fitted into a reworked French tech tree

Specifications
Armament

90mm CN 90 F4
- Ammunition
  - 33 rounds
  - OFL 90 F1 APFSDS
    - 277mm at 0° at 10m
  - OCC 90 F2 HEAT-FS
    - 350mm at 0°
  - OE 90 F1 HE
    - 18mm at 0°
  - OFUM 90 F1 Smoke
Vertical Guidance
- -8°/+15° @ 17°/second
Horizontal Guidance
- 360° @ 35°/second
12.7mm M2 (coaxial)
- 600 rounds
- API-T/I/AP/API-T belt
  - 31mm @ 0° @ 10m
Fire Control System
- SFIM/OIP
  - Commander’s Sight
    - AERITALIA P 204
      - Type: Day/night
      - Magnification: x8
  - Gunner’s Sight
    - LRS 5
      - Type: Day/night
      - Magnification: x8 (day), x4 (night)
  - Laser rangefinder