Paris. 16 June 2022. Eurosatory 2022 is a very special milestone for Arquus. The last Eurosatory was four years ago, but four years ago, on May 24th, 2018, Arquus was also founded, a new company building new history on legendary roots. For Arquus, this is not only a new Eurosatory, but also an anniversary and an occasion to take stock of how far the company has come since the launch of its new identity.
Arquus has changed significantly in four years. The company has experienced record growth over the last years, especially thanks to its role in the Scorpion program for the French Army. Ranges have evolved, innovation and support solutions have taken a leading role in crafting the new Arquus. A new industrial strategy has been launched, specializing each industrial plant, defining investments and harmonizing processes. The company is now more integrated, more structured and more ready for battle than ever.
Four years after the fusion of renowned companies Renault Trucks, Panhard and ACMAT into Arquus, time has come to reassert the company’s new identity.
Arquus is a French company, the European specialist of wheeled land mobility solutions. The company has long-running expertise in fields of reconnaissance and personnel transport armored vehicles, tactical and logistics trucks, as well as military drivelines and Special Forces vehicles.
However, Arquus is not only a designer and producer of armored vehicles. Arquus asserts its expertise in fields such as remote-controlled weapons stations thanks to its Business Unit Hornet, energy production, management and sharing systems, worldwide logistics and support solutions, as well as robotics, all at the greater benefits of the soldier’s mobility.
Arquus’ vocation is to be a key partner in European Defense topics, in all these areas. Member of the AB Volvo Group, Arquus is a European company which believes in partnerships with other leading players to provide with the best offers.
Since 2018 and the founding of Arquus, a lot has happened. First, and most importantly, the ramp- up of the Scorpion program, which has focused a wide part of the company’s efforts to provide the French Army with state-of-the-art new 6×6 combat vehicles, the Griffon and the Jaguar, developed with partners Nexter and Thales. New versions, such as the hybrid Griffon, are currently under development and shall be presented very soon.
With that experience, Arquus renews its position as a leading supplier of mobility solutions, both in France and in Europe, from light non-armored vehicles to heavy 8×8 drivelines. The Scorpion program also renews Arquus’ historical partnership with the French Army for the next few decades, for the manufacturing of vehicles as well as for their support, future upgrades, and full lifecycle.
In 2021, Arquus has officially launched Hornet, its Business Unit dedicated to Remote-Controlled Weapon Stations (RCWS). Also building on the experience of the Scorpion program, Hornet is in charge of developing the RCWS of the range, both on a technical and technological point of view, and promoting it on export markets.
Eurosatory 2022 is Hornet’s very first exhibition on the world’s largest Defense stage and will see the presentation of several new concepts and solutions: collaborative protection in partnership with Lacroix and Metravib, anti-drone capabilities with Cerbair, and anti-tank version with the integration of an Akeron missile from MBDA.
The COVID crisis has also slowed down the pace of equipment procurement, while the world kept growing more dangerous. Immediately afterwards, the Ukrainian crisis has reminded the world of the reality of high-intensity conflicts, a concept which the French Army had been working on for the last years. Along another key players, Arquus has been contributing to the collective thinking which has emerged then.
The current situation has clearly demonstrated the need for a resilient and reactive industry in battle order, capable of adapting to the new reality of combat as we see it in the East. It is of course too early to draw complete feedback of the ongoing operations in Ukraine, but observers can already note a few general observations.
First, the importance of some mass, capable of holding large portions of ground, maneuvering in large-scale operations, while sustaining a long conflict and offsetting attrition. In high-intensity wars, quantity is indeed a quality.
The conflict is also a reminder of the need for modern, efficient and well-dimensioned logistics, able to operate in highly contested zones as close as possible to the combat units. Such logistics will have to come with large support capabilities, available stocks of spares and sub-systems, as well as trained maintenance personnel and self-protection systems.
In that context, optimizing vehicle use and wear, energy consumption and fuel flows on the battlefield will be crucial. In that sense, relevant technologies such as hybrid engines, energy management and sharing systems are crucial for future engagements.
The situation also shows the importance of a high degree of modularity and versatility of all combat and support vehicles, which will have to conduct a wider range of roles than in peacetime: troop transport, embarked combat, disembarked combat, anti-tank capacity, drone platform, surveillance, logistics… all while retaining a high degree of mobility and protection for crews, with self-protection systems against ballistic and mines threats, as well as missiles and drones.
This might point to lighter, simpler equipment, very adaptable and available in greater numbers. It also points to the development of solutions for transforming or improving existing fleets, in order to rapidly equip them with new capabilities or give them new combat potential.
Arquus has designed its presentations at Eurosatory to answer these needs as much as possible. The booth was thought as a mix between simplicity and technology, advanced engineering and everyday innovation, breakthrough ideas and concrete solutions. It aims at answering long-term needs as well as very urgent requirements.
Eurosatory is always a very special moment for Arquus, a time when breakthrough ideas are presented as the result of years of thinking and development. Four years ago, Arquus presented the Scarabée, the very first hybrid-drive military vehicle and the company’s vision for future reconnaissance vehicles.
Now, Arquus is pleased to open a wide window on its new products and ranges of services at Eurosatory 2022 and invite you aboard for a constructive exchange on our visions.
A total of five vehicles and corresponding solutions and services are exhibited on the Arquus booth: the Sherpa A2M, launched by Arquus and partners Thales and NTGS, a new, breakthrough solution for shoot-and-scoot combining a Sherpa Light Scout, a Thales 120mm rifled tube and an automatic mortar system by NTGS; the upgraded VAB MK3 integrating new collaborative combat and protection systems; the Scarabée, in a recon version with anti-tank capability; the Fortress Mk2; and the Armis 8×8, Arquus’ solution for heavy logistics, presented by Arquus and its partners.
Arquus will also discuss during the week innovative solutions such as hybridization for all platforms and automation.
