Breaking News
Arquus Advances Modular Mobility for Future Special Forces with PLFS Grizzly at SOFINS 2025.
At the 2025 edition of SOFINS, a defense exhibition dedicated to special forces held at the Souge military camp, French manufacturer Arquus presents the PLFS Grizzly, a 4x4 tactical vehicle designed to meet the specific requirements of units operating in long-duration missions and complex environments. Developed in France and manufactured at the Limoges production site, the Grizzly reflects the French Armed Forces’ objective to modernize their fleet of specialized vehicles through the Special Forces Vehicles (VFS) program, launched in 2015 to upgrade the equipment of the Special Operations Command (COS) and the 11th Airborne Brigade.
The Grizzly is a versatile armored platform combining mobility, autonomy, and modularity (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The Grizzly is a versatile armored platform combining mobility, autonomy, and modularity. With a gross vehicle weight of 11 tons and a payload capacity of 1.9 tons, it can transport a crew of five along with a significant quantity of equipment. Its 4.1-meter wheelbase and 260-horsepower engine paired with an automatic transmission provide strong off-road capabilities, including the ability to handle gradients up to 60 percent and side slopes up to 35 percent. Designed for reconnaissance, support, or combat missions, the vehicle remains fully operational in harsh climates, supported by a cold-start kit and a suite of onboard systems tailored for remote deployment environments.
The Grizzly is also equipped for close combat. It features an electrically assisted ring mount compatible with a Dillon M134 machine gun, a 40 mm grenade launcher, three 7.62 mm weapon mounts, as well as integration kits for MMP missiles and AT4CS rocket systems. Its networked communication and coordination capabilities are enhanced by the integration of Thales' TOUATIS ESR system.
In addition to command and control support, the Grizzly is capable of launching the TOUATIS loitering munition, developed in partnership with Aeromapper and Thales. This munition offers metric precision, real-time operator control (man-in-the-loop), and modular plug-and-play warheads weighing 1 kg. With electro-optical and infrared sensors, it operates both day and night, can be aborted until the last second, and remains discreet thanks to low acoustic and visual signatures. Resistant to GNSS and datalink jamming, it is launched from reusable canisters deployable from land, air, or naval platforms.
Additional onboard equipment includes ballistic protection, a 5.4-ton electric winch, infrared lighting, a centralized tire inflation system, a heat-reduction net, and various storage and field recovery systems, all enhancing the vehicle’s autonomy, which is critical for special operations.
In addition to command and control support, the Grizzly is capable of launching the TOUATIS loitering munition, developed in partnership with Aeromapper and Thales (Picture source: Army Recognition)
This presentation takes place in the context of a global order made official in 2023 by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, consisting of 96 PLFS and 136 VLFS units. The order, notified late in the year to Arquus, consolidates the procurement tranches initially scheduled between 2022 and 2024. This move is intended to optimize production cycles, component procurement, and industrial planning amid supply chain disruptions. Deployment of the Grizzly is already underway within the COS and the 11th Airborne Brigade, with a public debut during the July 14th military parade, where several vehicles were used by the 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment.
Arquus, a company specializing in tactical and logistical military vehicles, positions the Grizzly as part of its broader offering for special forces operations. In addition to its integration into the French Armed Forces, the vehicle demonstrates potential for export to partners involved in asymmetric operations or requiring high logistical autonomy.
The integration of the TOUATIS loitering munition further strengthens the system’s relevance in modern theaters, where precision engagement and multi-role capabilities are essential. In an operational context increasingly defined by the need for mobility, modular effects, and autonomous platforms, the Grizzly stands as a tailored response to the evolving requirements of deployed forces.