First issue of VT4 vehicles to French forces

Arquus is one of the three members of the short-term consortium to which the French Ministry of Defense awarded the Scorpion contract.

On Thursday October 11 last, the Armed forces handed over the first two VT4 vehicles to the 12th Régiment de Cuirassiers during a ceremony organized by the SIMMT, the Army structure in charge of the maintenance of all Land equipment, at the Satory military facilities. The ceremony was held in the presence of Major General Charles Beaudouin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, in charge of Plans and Programs.

This first delivery is part of the Scorpion program, announced in December 2016 by the Minister of Defense during his visit to the Arquus maintenance facility (and logistices center) in Garchizy. A total of 3,700 vehicles will be delivered to the Army, out of 4380 ordered by the Defense Ministry. Production began in December 2017 at Arquus’ plant in Saint-Nazaire.

The program, conducted in partnership with Ford, consists in militarizing a 4WD civilian base by adding more than 250 new references in the fields of mobility (suspension, brakes), ergonomics and the incorporation of military equipment for the standard 1 models. The concept combines the comfort and safety of modern vehicles with the mobility and ruggedness required for military operations.

The vehicles will benefit from innovative support, entirely integrated by Arquus. The first 500 Standard 1 vehicles are currently being delivered to the Army, as of October 1. Tier 2 of the VT4 program was signed on September 7 by the Defense Procurement Agency: 1,200 vehicles will be delivered in 2019 incorporating a total of 350 new references.

In terms of industrial impact, the order will have a positive spin-off on the Saint-Nazaire plant, which today employs more than 200 people. Arquus is one of the three members of the short-term consortium to which the French Ministry of Defense awarded a contract for the production of a new generation of wheeled armored personnel carriers, namely the multi-role armored vehicle and the armored reconnaissance and combat vehicle. Arquus also supplies the powertrains and close-range defense remote controlled systems operated by the two vehicles. It will also provide full logistics for spare parts and Scorpion subsystems.