Arquus launches new Fortress Mk 2 tactical vehicle

The third week of the Arquus e-xpo is an opportunity for Arquus to present the latest addition to its range of tactical vehicles: the Fortress Mk 2. Designed to answer the intensification of the threats encountered on the battlefield, the Fortress Mk 2 combines the very high mobility of the Fortress and brand new capabilities in terms of protection and firepower.
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Arquus Fortress Mk 2 (Picture source: Arquus)

More aggressive and even better protected, the Fortress Mk 2 is a modern, high-performance vehicle, very well adapted to current and future operational commitments. It combines mobility, firepower and protection n a single multi-purpose vehicle, developed to meet the demands of Arquus' customers and partners.

Designed to transport a combat group of 11 soldiers over all terrains, the Fortress Mk 2 combines optimal protection against ballistic threats and mines or IEDs encountered on the battlefield, and unprecedented off-road mobility capabilities thanks to its independent suspensions and powerful engine.

To better face the evolution of threats on the battlefield, the Fortress Mk 2 is natively designed with very high levels of protection, both against ballistic threats and against mines and IEDs, thanks to innovative under-body architecture. This new protection, particularly coherent and balanced, makes the Fortress Mk 2one of the most protected 4x4 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) on the market. This increase in protection has been achieved without any increase in mass, thanks to the use of the latest Arquus technologies in terms of armor and body architecture. This major evolution has therefore been completed while maintaining the exceptional mobility of the Fortress. Since its presentation in 2014, the Fortress has always been very popular due to its excellent off-road capabilities and has very soon been adopted by a European Special Forces unit.

The Fortress Mk 2 is a vehicle at ease in all circumstances, off-road as well as for obstacle crossing, thanks to its independent suspensions and proven chassis, which is the result of decades of operational experience.

The Fortress Mk 2 retains the 6-cylinder 340-horsepower engine of the Mk 1, which gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 23 horsepower per ton, a top speed of 120 km/h and a range of 1,200 kilometers. Its exceptional mobility and interior configuration allow for the safe transport of a full fighting group and its equipment, on all terrains, and with a high level of comfort, ensuring that they are physically and mentally fit before entering in action. Thanks to its mobility and firepower, the Fortress Mk 2 can carry and accompany the infantry on the battlefield, while providing operational fire support.

The Fortress Mk 2 has been specially designed to carry Arquus' Hornet range of Remote Controlled Weapons Stations (RCWS). As part of the Scorpion program, Arquus has created a new French line of RCWS which accommodates a wide range of weaponry, from 5.56mm to 12.7mm, including 7.62mm and HK40. Common equipment for all the new combat vehicles of the Scorpion program, these systems will equip the French Army's new combat vehicles. The Fortress Mk 2 is natively equipped with Arquus' Battlenet vetronics suite, designed to operate with the Hornet turrets and featuring Blue Force Tracking (BFT).

In addition to the Hornet RCWS, the Fortress Mk 2 can accommodate a wide variety of weapons and systems, such as 7.62mm, 12.7mm or 14.5mm protected manual circular gun mounts, grenade launchers or acoustic and laser detectors.