Arquus launches business continuity plan to support the French Army.

Arquus has launched a complete business continuity plan, specifically crafted to support the Army currently committed on all grounds, on national soil as well as in foreign operations. To help the armies face the multiplicity of operations and the acceleration of operational rhythms, Arquus presents them with all immediately available vehicles, as well as all its capabilities in terms of vehicle support and maintenance.

Arquus VABs specifically adapted to foreign operations ready for delivery to the French Army (Picture source: Arquus)

Arquus has completed a full inventory of the means that could quickly be handed to the armies. Roughly 300 armored and non-armored, new and retrofitted vehicles have been identified and a discussion was initiated with the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA, French Procurement Agency) and the Structure Intégrée du Maintien en condition opérationnelle des Matériels Terrestres (SIMMT, French Army structure in charge of the maintenance of all Army equipment) to ensure the delivery of these fleets to the Army, even though all production activities were halted in the factories.

Arquus VABs specifically adapted to foreign operations before delivery to the French Army (Picture source: Arquus)

In this framework, the DGA’s Quality service has been conducting all necessary tests in Garchizy for 13 VAB (Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé) APCs specifically designed for foreign operations. These 13 VABs have then been handed over to the Army. They complete a series of 40 vehicles, started last year, which will reinforce the units currently deployed in the framework of operation Barkhane in Sahel (Africa).

Arquus VT4 at the final assembly stage in the Saint-Nazaire facility (Picture source: Arquus)

Last week, the DGA’s Quality service also conducted a number of tests on a batch of 100 light tactical, non-armored VT4 vehicles in Saint-Nazaire, in order to plan and organize delivery operations to the armies, in liaison with the SIMMT. The first batch of 100 vehicles already left Saint-Nazaire at the end of last week, and 100 more will be handed over this week. These vehicles will reinforce the means available for domestic operations.

Arquus VT4 light tactical vehicles stored at the Saint-Nazaire facility before delivery to the French army (Picture source: Arquus)

In order to contribute to supporting the forces in their current operations, both on national soil and in foreign operations, Arquus has made sure that numerous support activities are kept running. Dedicated teams have been kept in place on the different industrial plants to ensure the reception and delivery of all spares and organs, in accordance with all support agreements linking Arquus and the SIMMT.

These teams ensure, as much as possible, the support of vital fleets such as the 10,000 trucks of the MSS PL contract (TRM10000, TRM2000, VLRA, GBC 180), which carry the Army’s logistics, or the VAB, VBL and PVP which constitute most of the combat vehicles deployed in operations. Arquus has also made sure that all French VBCI and Caesar self-propelled howitzer fleets would keep receiving all necessary spares and organs, through its partner company Nexter.

At the Arquus hub in Garchizy (Nièvre department), in charge of all logistics activities for the spares and organs for the vehicles supported by Arquus, almost 35% of the workforce are still mobilized today, with the utmost respect for all sanitary measures, in order to ensure the reception, conditioning, preparation and sending of all kits to the regiments.

Last, the Renault Trucks network, on which Arquus relies for the support of the Army’s trucks and VT4 vehicles, is still operational. More than half of the network, totaling more than a hundred service points all over France, overseas territories included, is at the disposal of the armies for regular maintenance activities.

More than ever, Arquus is fully committed to serving the Army, in order to ensure, as much as possible in these very demanding times, its mobility on all operational theaters, foreign as well as domestic.