Innovation at the core of our DNA

For more than a century, we have been supplying the French army and dozens of governments on all five continents with tens of thousands of vehicles of all types. From the 1897 Panhard staff car to the future Griffon and the Jaguar vehicles for the Scorpion project, we have successfully adapted to a constantly evolving world to design the vehicles of the future.

Today, the challenges to be met in the field of defense are still immense. This is why Arquus earmarks 4% of its net sales to R&D i.e. about 20 million euros, of which 10% are invested in Research & Innovation. Not including production, we have 25 people working full-time in R&D.Our innovation strategy focuses on electric and hybrid transmission, automation and robotisation and intelligent platforms, with particular emphasis on vehicles to:

•  reduce their weight,
• improve their range,
• develop their electrification,
• strengthen their protection against new threats.

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Lean innovation

To offer robust, reliable and effective solutions at controlled cost in terms of development, acquisition and support, Arquus practices frugal innovation - we adapt civil or off-the-shelf technology and innovation to military requirements. To do this, we always take into account the feedback we receive (REtour d’EXpérience [RETEX]) about the hardware currently in service and, alongside our customers, we identify new market demands and future requirements.

“Scorpion will be the backbone of land combat in the next few decades.”

Jean-Yves Le Drian, Defense Minister

With the Scorpion vehicle-fleet modernisation project, we are now designing the French Army’s vehicles of the future. The project has two objectives:

•  to renew field combat capabilities based on 2 armored vehicles: Griffon and Jaguar,
•  to create a unique information and communication system: SICS (Scorpion Combat Information System).

Our ambition is to become the world reference in automated connected hybrid land defense mobility. To do so, our Group is developing new electric and hybrid transmission technologies, which will be incorporated into the next generation of armored reconnaissance and combat vehicles and logistics vehicles. Our engines will be more energy-efficient and therefore more rugged in the field

The Electer VAB, new generation transport

The Electer VAB is a brilliant illustration of this. This new generation transport vehicle has completed 5,000 km of tests in 18 months (including 800 km on sand) without a single breakdown! A exploit which demonstrates its dependability, ruggedness and performance.

In constant pursuit of innovation, Arquus is conducting research on hydrogen batteries at the same time, in partnership with the French Atomic and Alternative Energy Commission.

In order to guarantee performance, safe use and cost control, we develop and integrate our own metal and composite ballistics solutions.

New solutions in the pipeline

Research and Innovation is also a priority when it comes to crew protection. With the development of digital simulation tools in particular, we can produce lighter, more efficient solutions, capable of responding to new threats, such as improvised explosive devices (IED), without penalising vehicle operability. To achieve this, we have stepped up research studies and partnerships in targeted areas, such as the following:

•  metal and composite materials,
• new manufacturing processes (FSW, additive manufacturing, etc.),
• innovative anti-blast structure solutions,
• enhanced and new assembly solutions for our armored hulls,
• uncoupling solutions aimed at guaranteeing the survival of the occupants of a vehicle subjected to sudden accelerations caused by a blast mine or IED. Some of our vehicles are already fitted with our anti-mine seats: Bastion, VAB MKIII, Sherpa L, Higuard, etc.

Technological developments in the sector require an ever-increasing number of onboard electronic systems and equipment (driving, protection, weapon, surveillance and other systems) connected to the outside world. In order to optimise these systems and their interactions, we are developing open-ended, standardised, tried and tested solutions with reduced ownership costs and the possibility of modular evolution. The Battlenet system is an example of these innovative electronic architectures because it enables vehicles to be networked. This entirely modular vetronics offering guarantees easy-to-use man-machine interfaces

We are convinced that in the next few years, military operations will be increasingly unmanned in order to expose our forces to the least possible risk during combat. We must therefore be capable of proposing high value-added remote and unmanned systems by combining satellites, drones and artificial intelligence. We are currently leading a task force comprising two state-owned laboratories - BRGM for geology and Onera for aeronautics - and two privately-owned companies: CAR&D for the dynamic simulation of vehicles on rugged terrain and Magellium for geo-information.

Remote combat vehicles

Arquus is developing technological bricks so that its vehicles can be operated remotely (radio or wire-guided) and operators removed from danger whenever necessary. Our technology is designed to turn standard vehicles into remote vehicles by fitting them with sensors designed for remote operation.

A kit consisting of cameras, a communication system and a control panel enables the operator to control his vehicle when it is out of sight, while keeping the vehicle’s original functionality. This technology can be used for remote operation of the vehicle from a distance of several kilometers.

Unmanned ground convoys

Field operations often require long convoy trips, with all the ensuing risks due to the presence of drivers who are not in a position to fight. Since logistics convoys are a sitting target in today’s conflicts, there is a tendency to protect them. But that means losing up to 30% of their SWL.

The development of unmanned convoys therefore seems to be a promising solution. Today, platooning is essentially being studied for civil vehicles and the solutions envisaged (connected road infrastructure, precise GPS mapping, etc.) are not suitable for military use. We have therefore invested in the study and pre-qualification of an environment-independent platooning concept that does not require GPS coverage.

The first, highly-protected vehicle will be manned. The others, unmanned, will follow the same trajectory as the manned vehicle, solely by measuring the positions of the vehicles in relation to each other. A promising technology.