As shown in the illustration, the LPM is based around four areas for the army, providing a wide range of potential actions to ARQUUS:
- actions "on a human scale" aimed at improving living conditions, treatment and combat engagement for individual servicemen (In-Service Support) and their families. ARQUUS specifically acts within this area through its support for injured servicemen (OMEGA program, ADO, Terre Fraternité) and orphans (1x1 association), as well as through its active participation in the study and teaching of defence matters (chair of IHEDN, auditors Ecole de Guerre and IHEDN), and through its various partnerships (Museum of the Armed Forces, exhibitions, etc.). All these initiatives demonstrate the close attachment held by ARQUUS in the world of Defence and to the French army soldiers.
- "remedial" actions, meaning the shoring up of capabilities missing through the shortfall in resources over the last decade: maintaining worn out, over-used equipment, replacing last 155 self-propelled guns with the Caesar system, upgrading Leclercs, speeding up the MCO transformation, and more. On these points, ARQUUS is a key player in the repair and regeneration of vehicles (VAB, GBC, VBL, PVP). It also supplies Caesar carriers and the VBCI drive train.
- initiatives for "replacing equipment" with a focus on the median segment: SCORPION scheme (Griffon, Jaguar, Serval, VBAE), studies covering future tank and canon schemes, and more. Focussing on the army, this area mainly mobilises ARQUUS around the SCORPION scheme (Griffon and Jaguar mobility, weapons station for the entire scheme, including renovated Leclercs and Serval, VBAE project), on plans for replacing fleets of trucks (logistics and tactics) and on the P4 replacement (by the VT4, for which deliveries have already begun), with a readiness to participate in the future tank system.
- a specific emphasis on innovation across all areas, with the creation of a Defence Innovation Agency, provided with its own specific resources and procedures. This is the opportunity for ARQUUS to promote its research and studies on the smart convoy (patrolling), standalone trailers, remotely operated vehicles, energy saving and even predictive maintenance and remote diagnostics.
Through the various brands it has inherited, ARQUUS has been the main supplier for the army, especially on median and light segments, since the 1st World War. With the arrival of 3rd generation equipment in the 1980s and 25000 wheeled vehicles in the army, ARQUUS currently supports over 90% of the army's equipment of this type.
The Act for Military Planning 2019-2025 should enable ARQUUS to remain the European leader for medium-weight armoured vehicles for the coming 30 years, working for the French armed forces and partner armies across the globe.
