ARQUUS Celebrates Milestone with 500th Bastion Launch and Innovative Engine Upgrade!
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Following an extremely productive year in 2019, where the facility delivered over 1,350 units, including 1,200 VT4 liaison vehicles for the French Armed Forces, ARQUUS Saint-Nazaire has recently proclaimed the production of its 500th Bastion. This pivotal industrial milestone, a homage to the Bastion, also celebrates the VLRA, a groundbreaking and iconic vehicle. Such productivity underscores the Bastion’s vital contributions, particularly in Africa, where it serves as the backbone of numerous military forces. To further cater to its partners’ requirements, ARQUUS is enhancing the Bastion, now available in 2020 in a new iteration outfitted with a 270hp engine.
This represents a significant achievement for the ARQUUS manufacturing facility in Saint-Nazaire, which has been intricately linked to the legendary VLRA (Véhicule Léger de Reconnaissance et d’Appui, Liaison, Reconnaissance and Support Vehicle) and continues to shape its narrative with the new VLRA and the Bastion.
To cater to its clients’ distinct specifications, who demanded a durable and highly mobile armored vehicle, ARQUUS engineered the Bastion in 2012, now one of the most celebrated vehicles in African military operations. By integrating a mecano-welded hull on the new VLRA’s chassis, ARQUUS has devised a straightforward, sturdy, and resilient solution, primed for industrial production, easy to maintain, and ensuring a wide compatibility with existing VLRA fleets globally.
Well safeguarded against ballistic and landmine threats, the Bastion can accommodate a full 8-soldier combat unit alongside comprehensive equipment thanks to its ample internal volume. Already deployed in various African military forces, where it is celebrated for its user-friendliness and robust design, as well as for its adaptability, the Bastion has recently been selected by the G5 Sahel to outfit several member armies in their campaign against armed militant groups. With these latest acquisitions, the Bastion now totals 500 operational units worldwide, establishing itself as the preferred armored vehicle in the African military landscape.
MEDIA AND PRESS RELATIONS
MARCH 23, 2020
As part of ARQUUS’ product evolution, the Bastion is now launched in a new variant with a four-cylinder, 270hp engine. This increase in power equips the Bastion with enhanced capabilities in speed and obstacle navigation, significantly improving its performance across all operational theaters. This new version complements the traditional 180hp model. It showcases ARQUUS’ prowess in refining its vehicles’ capabilities, tailored to military requirements and field insights.
At the foundation of the Bastion, and central to the history of ARQUUS Saint-Nazaire, lies the iconic VLRA. Originating from the Legueu methods, the VLRA has been arming military forces since 1967, beginning with the Légion Etrangère and the Troupes de Marine (Navy Troops, a part of the French Army), as well as the French Special Forces. A true mechanical dromedary, the VLRA has established a unique reputation over the years for its obstacle navigation capabilities. Offering a range of 1,400 kilometers, a water tank, and exceptional endurance, the VLRA is the preferred vehicle for long expeditions and exceptional undertakings, a genuine successor to the Long Range Desert Patrols. A R Q U U S W W W . A R Q U U S – D E F E N S E . C O M MARIN TOLLET Tel . +33 1 70 91 81 30 marin.tol let@arquus-defense.com
After more than fifty years of dedicated service, over 600 VLRAs remain active in the Army, across more than 75 diverse versions, attesting to the vehicle’s resilience and versatility. In its command vehicle variant, the VLRA is distinctly utilized by the French President during the French National Day celebrations.
A new variant of the VLRA was unveiled by ARQUUS in 2009. This version boosts the payload capacity by over one tonne, enhances cabin ergonomics for a third forward seat, and reduces the turning radius. The Bastion is built upon the chassis of this iteration. To date, more than 1,000 chassis have been produced by ARQUUS for the new VLRA and the Bastion since 2009.
