You may have heard that the French Army has had Panhard VBL armored vehicles in the inventory since 1990. True, but those have grown old and no longer comply meet the requirements of the French military. This is where Arquus Scarabee, a new armor-clad vehicle with advanced equipment, comes into play.
Arquus is an armored vehicle manufacturer that has brought ACMAT, Panhard, and Renault Truck Defense under a single banner and is a part of the Volvo Trucks Corporation. Arquus Scarabee is its first-ever automobile, and it is still being tested in the field.
The relatively light vehicle is still larger than the Panhard VBL. It features a central driver’s seat for optimal ergonomics and has a windshield which is divided into three sections forming a semi-circle.
The hood plate of the army car conceals a hybrid powertrain consisting of a diesel engine, an electric motor and a traction battery. A military add-on with a 30mm machine gun turret is available as an option. The turret even supports remote control, but the working distance is not specified.
It is hard to say at the moment just how many vehicles the French Ministry of Defense ends up purchasing and using. There are plans to let the Panhard VBL series live on at least a while longer. Within the next six years, over 700 armored cars will be sent over for a technical upgrade. Another challenge may arise in the form of the Australian armored car model Thales Hawkei, which may also end up in the French Army ranks if it turns out to be good enough.
Photo: autotimesnews.com