Chile plans to acquire four French-made ARQUUS Bastion 4x4 APC armored vehicles.

According to information published by the Spanish Defense website "InfoDefensa" on July 14, 2022, the Undersecretary of the Interior of the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security of Chile asked the Regional Government (Gore) of Biobío to finance the acquisition of four French-made ARQUUS Bastion 4x4 APC Armored Personnel Transport vehicles
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ARQUUS Bastion 4x4 APC Armored Personnel Carrier. (Picture source Army Recognition)

Ministry of the Interior and Public Security of Chile has requested a budget of $2.3 million to purchase four Bastion 4x4 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) manufactured by the French company ARQUUS.

The purchase of these Bastion armored vehicles will be part of a reinforcement of the police forces of the Biobío region. The Region of the Biobío is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the east by Argentina, on the north by the Chilean Region of Ñuble, and on the south by the Chilean Region of Araucanía.

The Bastion is a 4x4 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) vehicle designed and developed by the French company ACMAT, which is now part of ARQUUS. The vehicle is based on the chassis of the VLRA TDN/TDE all-terrain multi-role wheeled tactical vehicle.

In APC configuration, the Bastion has a crew of two including a driver and commander, and can accommodate up to eight infantrymen seated at the rear of the hull. The vehicle offers ballistic protection against the firing of small arms and artillery shell splinters. It also integrates a V-shaped monocoque hull made of high hardness armored steel, which enhances the survivability of the vehicle and occupants by deflecting an upward aimed blast from a landmine or IED away from the vehicle.

The roof of the Bastion can be equipped with different types of weapon stations that can be armed with one machine gun up to 12.7mm caliber or 40mm automatic grenade launcher.

The Bastion APC is motorized with a 5.0L turbo diesel intercooler engine developing 215 hp at 2,300rpm coupled to either manual or automatic transmission. It can run at a maximum road speed of 110 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 1,000 km.