Chile Receives First French-made ARQUUS Bastion 4x4 Armored Personnel Carrier Vehicles.

On May 6, 2024, Chile's national police force, the Carabineros, integrated the first Arquus-Defense Bastion 4x4 armored personnel carriers (APCs) into their fleet. Announced by Chile’s Undersecretariat of the Interior, this procurement aims to enhance the operational capabilities and response times of police patrols, especially in the southern Macrozona Sur region of Chile. The Undersecretary of the Interior collaborated with the Carabineros to facilitate the acquisition of these armored vehicles.
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Designed to offer enhanced protection against ballistic threats and mines, the Bastion's versatility and ease of maintenance enable it to perform a wide range of missions (Picture source: Arquus)

The announcement, made public in July 2022, highlights the government's ongoing investment in improving security infrastructure. According to an official post on the social media platform X, a spokesperson for the undersecretary stated, "We are investing in greater and better security. Bastions, this new modern transport, are fully armored and adapted for all types of terrain, allowing carabineros to move with all their equipment in better safety conditions."

Manufactured by Acmat, a subsidiary of Arquus-Defense formerly known as Renault Trucks Defense, the Bastion vehicles are based on the chassis of the multi-functional all-terrain tactical vehicle, VLRA TDN/TDE. Designed to offer enhanced protection against ballistic threats and mines, the Bastion's versatility and ease of maintenance enable it to perform a wide range of missions. Weighing 12 tons and capable of reaching speeds up to 110 km/h, the Bastion can accommodate a crew of two (a driver and a commander) and transport up to eight troops. It is equipped for various armaments, including remote weapon stations and turrets that can incorporate 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm machine guns or a 40 mm grenade launcher.

In terms of mobility, the Bastion can handle a 30% side slope and a maximum slope of 65%, wade through up to 1 meter of water, overcome a vertical obstacle of 0.5 meters, and cross a trench of 0.8 meters. The vehicle's design includes a front-mounted engine, a central crew compartment, and a rear troop area, all encased in a steel armored hull that meets NATO Stanag 4569 standards for protection against rifle and machine gun fire. It also features a V-hull design to deflect blasts from mines or improvised explosive devices.

Access to the APC is through a double door at the rear of the vehicle, which opens outward and is designed without a central pillar. The crew compartment is equipped with three bulletproof windows on each side, each with firing ports at the bottom, enhancing the crew's ability to engage threats while protected.

John Cockerill, a major Belgian engineering firm, is poised to acquire Arquus, significantly enhancing its presence in the global defense market by adding a variety of wheeled armored vehicles and military trucks to its portfolio. This acquisition is aimed at merging John Cockerill’s expertise in light tank turrets and firing systems with Arquus’s robust line of military vehicles, promising to create synergies that will yield more innovative and competitive offerings for global land forces. This consolidation is expected to double John Cockerill's defense sector revenue to around €1 billion by 2026, while expanding its operational workforce to 2,000 employees across multiple countries including Belgium, France, Italy, India, and Saudi Arabia.