The Arquus Hornet Remote Weapon Station is selected to be fitted on the new Griffon 6×6 armored vehicle which is now in service with the French armed forces. The family of Hornet RWS shares common elements to reduce through-life cycle costs. The Griffon is one of the three key new vehicles of the “Scorpion programme” launched in 2014, along with the Jaguar and the Serval. They are intended to replace the army’s 2,661-strong Véhicule de l’avant blindé (VAB) fleet, which has been in service since 1978. Arquus is already a protected vehicle and integrated support market leader, and a major player in the Scorpion programme, and is now developing a range of Remote Controlled Weapon Stations (RCWS).
Arquus delivers all the component parts: high-precision mechanics, secure electronics, optronics and image processing, dynamic control. The Hornet range RCWS are highly dependable and deliver optimum connectivity, with the tactical situation being displayed on screen. Leader in protected mobility and integrated support, major actor of the Scorpion program, Arquus has developed, on own equity, a concept adapted to defense convoy needs. This new business area for Arquus is the basis for the development of a French remote-controlled small weapons station industry, which is creating employment via a large number of sub-contracting French SME.
The Hornet is the basic version in the family of Hornet Remote Weapon Station (RWS). It can be armed with a 7.62 mm or a 12.7mm machine gun as well as a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The sighting system is mounted to the right of the main armament that includes a TV camera, thermal channel and laser range finder. The ammunition box is fitted to the left side of the turret with 300 12.7mm rounds, or 1,000 7.62mm rounds or 64 rounds of 40mm grenades. The lower part of the turret is also equipped with the Galix electrically operated grenade launchers systems with a bank 8 smoke grenade dischargers.
The Hornet Lite is the light version in the family of Hornet Remote Weapon Station (RWS). It can be fitted with one 7.62mm machine gun, but it can carry only 400 ammunitions of 7.62mm. This turret features can be operated in automatic and manual mode. The 7.62mm machine gun is mounted in the center of the weapon station, with the optic sight on its right and the ammo box on its left. The optic pod includes day and infrared cameras as well as laser range finder.The Hornet Lite is electrically powered and stabilized in two axes. She has a traverse of 360° and elevation from -20° to 60°.
The Hornet S (Standard) is the most sophisticated version in the ARQUUS Hornet RWS (Remote Weapon Station) family. The turret can be armed with one 7.62mm machine gun with an ammo box of 550 rounds of ammunition ready to fire. The machine gun of the Hornet S RWS is mounted in the center of the weapon station while a panoramic sight is located to the left side with the ammo box. The Hornet S is electrically powered and stabilized in three axes. She has a traverse of 360° and elevation from -20° to 60°. The Hornet S is selected by the French to be mounted on the Jaguar 6×6 armored reconnaissance and combat vehicle that will enter in service with the French army in 2021/2022.
The company is innovating especially through advances in eSupport, which provides solutions based on feedback analysis, the development of HUMS (Health and Usage Monitoring System) and decision-making tools. Arquus is also developing remote assistance solutions based on the use of smart glasses. By developing predictive maintenance solutions, as well as additive manufacturing– especially 3D printing of spare parts directly in the field– Arquus offers solutions that facilitate operational logistics and optimize the supply chain. For Arquus, innovation is a source of support for field operators.