On December 18, 2019, the 40th Artillery Regiment (40th RA) stationed at Suippes received the Army’s first four 4×4 tactical vehicles to 2.1 standard, wearing the new Brun Terre de France (BTF) camouflage that will be used for the “Scorpion” system. The Scorpion project aims to transform the equipment and networking of the key operating unit of the French Army. These deliveries reflect the renewal of equipment for the French armies set in motion with the 2019-2025 Military Programming Law.
By the end of 2019, the French Army will have received 430 standard 2.1 vehicles, out of the 500 that have been delivered to the French Ministry of the Armed Forces: 196 in the “Central Europe” camouflage and 237 in “Brun Terre de France.” At the start of 2020, deliveries will begin overseas.
Sur ce fond unique, des camouflages interchangeables et réversibles en fonction des théâtres (neige, désert comme urbain), pourront très rapidement être installés ou enlevés.
Arquus Trapper VT4 is a military personnel carrier that is capable of performing cargo transport, patrol, command, and liaison missions developed by Arquus (formerly Renault Trucks Defense). The light and non-armoured VT4 is a 4×4 vehicle designed for command and liaison purposes. It can be used to transport five soldiers or four operators equipped with the FELIN fighting system. Production work on the vehicles started at the Arquus plant in Saint Nazaire in December 2017. The company’s maintenance centre in Fourchambault is responsible for providing the logistics support for VT4-equipped units.
Arquus received an order to supply 500 Standard 1 VT4s to the French Army as part of the Scorpion programme in December 2016. The first batch of VT4 Standard 1 vehicles were handed over to the French Army for testing in September 2017. In September, the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) signed a contract for the second tier of 1,200 Standard 2 VT4 vehicles. The company noted that the production of Standard 2 variant will start next year. The French Army is expected to be equipped with a total of 4,380 VT4 vehicles by 2025, which will replace the P4 liaison vehicle. The vehicles will replace the ageing Peugeot P4 off-road vehicle fleet, which has been operational with the French armed forces since 1983.
