12 June 2020

Arquus unveils Fortress Mk 2 and Armis logistics family at online expo

by Samuel Cranny-Evans

French armoured vehicle manufacturer Arquus presented its Fortress Mk 2 protected mobility vehicle and Armis range of logistics vehicles in an online expo being held in lieu of the Eurosatory exhibition that was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Armis 8×8 is part of a new range of logistics vehicles presented by Arquus in an online exhibition that began on 8 June. (Arquus)

Launched by Arquus on 8 June and lasting until 31 July the exhibition provides an insight into the new vehicle families. The Armis range of logistics and tactical trucks includes 4×4, 6×6, and 8×8 variants. The Fortress Mk 2 is an evolution of the original Fortress, which was originally marketed as the high-mobility version of the company’s Bastion protected mobility vehicle.

Development of the Mk 2 began in 2019 to maintain the mobility of the original Fortress, while adding greater protection and retaining the same gross vehicle weight of 14.5 tonnes by using a new generation of lighter armour, Arquus spokesperson Marin Tollet told Janes in a 10 June email. This enables the vehicle to retain its original axles and engine, Tollet said. The Mk 2 has also been reworked so that it can accept a wider array of weapons, including the Arquus Hornet remote weapon station (RWS).

The Armis trucks have been developed using Arquus’s own equity to provide all logistical and tactical missions that a force might require during long operational deployments. Examples cited by the company include water carriers, mobile workshops, and tow trucks.

All of the vehicles are compatible with the French Army’s Scorpion equipment and can be provided with the Hornet RWS and either protected or unprotected cabs.

French armoured vehicle manufacturer Arquus presented its Fortress Mk 2 protected mobility vehicle a...

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