Arquus Garchizy marked the regeneration of its 2000th VAB (Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé) in December 2023. Situated in the Nièvre region, the Arquus Garchizy facility has emerged as a pivotal hub for armored vehicle production and spare parts distribution since its inception in 2018. Initially established for the production of armored cabins and spare parts distribution, the Garchizy logistics platform swiftly became indispensable to Arquus’ global operations. With a mandate encompassing the logistics support for all 29,000 vehicles under Arquus’ purview worldwide, including vital components for flagship projects like the Scorpion program, the Arquus logistics platform, affectionately known as the HUB, has demonstrated its agility and efficiency.Reflecting on the journey since its inauguration, the Arquus Garchizy site has witnessed a remarkable evolution.
From humble beginnings in January 2007, when the first VABs arrived for repair at the Fourchambault site (now relocated to Garchizy), to the present-day operation celebrating its 2000th regeneration, the progress has been substantial. Initially serving as a testing ground to establish the Maintenance in Operational Conditions market, the site has matured into a dynamic center of excellence in armored vehicle maintenance. Key to the efficiency gains in the regeneration process is the optimization of workflow and skill enhancement among the workforce. Transitioning from a paired mechanic system to an online assembly line approach has significantly reduced repair times, from an average of 8 months to a mere 12 weeks. Moreover, the gradual upskilling of mechanics, once reliant on support from the 15th Material Support Base, has empowered the workforce to operate autonomously, ensuring consistent quality standards.
The Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé or VAB is a French armoured personnel carrier and support vehicle designed and manufactured by Renault Trucks Defense (now called Arquus). It entered service in 1976 and around 5,000 were produced. It has seen combat in various conflicts in Africa, Asia as well as Europe and has also been exported to more than 15 countries. A polyvalent military vehicle, the VAB has more than thirty variants and sub-variants. Beyond their common primary role of transporting personnel and equipment in combat zones, some VAB are tailored for mechanized infantry combat, some fulfill the role of anti-tank missile launchers, some of self-propelled mortars, some are optimized for electronic warfare, etc. It still is the standard APC of the French Army but is gradually being replaced by its successors, the VBMR Griffon and the VBMR-L Serval.
