French Defense minister Parly visits logistical platform of Scorpion programme at Fourchambault.

On July 18, 2019, French Defense Minister Florence Parly paid a visit to the Arquus logistical platform located at Fourchambault.

French Defense minister Florence Parly (center) visiting Arquus' logistical platform at Fourchambault. On her left walks Emmanuel Levacher, CEO of Arquus (Picture source: Arquus)

As part of the Scorpion program to modernize the French Army's combat contact capabilities, Arquus is setting up a logistical platform on its Fourchambault Operational Maintenance Center (CMCO). The Directorate-General for Armaments (DGA) had planned, since the launch of the program, an important in-service support component for all Scorpion equipment. This logistical platform will be the sole reference center for spare parts and components for armored vehicles. VBMR Griffon and EBRC Jaguar, destined to become the main vehicles of the infantry and the cavalry units.

This platform will supply, in a very short time, all industrial and public partners with parts and spare parts for the Griffon and Jaguar vehicles developed by Arquus, Nexter and Thales. Arquus produces the kinematic chains (drivelines) and the remote-controlled weapon stations that will equip these two vehicles for the French army (the Belgian version will be equipped with FN Herstal teleoperated turrets, the vehicles being assembled by John Cockerill).

This platform also aims to become the reference logistics center for replacement parts and components of most of the 25,000 Arquus vehicles in service in the French Army. This is in addition to Arquus' historical activities on the site, i..e the repair of vehicles (mainly VABs) and the production of armored boxes.

The logistics platform allows today to manage, store and distribute:
- more than 100,000 references
- directly on the customer support bases
- within less than 72 hours
- For programs as varied as VT4, VAB, PLFS, VBMR, EBRC ...

VBMR Griffon receiving its driveline at Fourchambault (Picture source: Arquus)

VAB under complete refurbishment at Fourchambault (Picture source: Arquus)