The French manufacturer Arquus has delivered the first Bastion armored vehicles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces after a three-year period of testing and evaluation.
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The models, based on the VLRA chassis and produced by the subsidiary ACMAT, were officially selected by the Ukrainians after testing cheaper versions. The Bastion was chosen as an entry-level option in the armored vehicle segment, but with performance suitable to the needs of a country at war.
The initial supply of 11 units was announced in April 2023, but delivery was delayed due to the lack of a formal agreement between the governments of France and Ukraine. Production resumed in 2024, with delivery scheduled for July. According to Arquus, production capacity could be increased to up to 100 vehicles if a new request is made by Kyiv.
During the stalemate with Ukraine, Arquus redirected part of its production to Armenia. Bastion vehicles were seen in transit through Georgia at the end of 2023, following a visit by French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to Yerevan, where she announced a military supply agreement.
France has advocated for strengthening the European defense industry, opting to limit support to Ukraine through direct purchases from the U.S.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @Arquus_Defense | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
❗️🇫🇷French automotive manufacturer Arquus Defense has delivered the first ACMAT Bastion armored vehicles to 🇺🇦Ukraine pic.twitter.com/9QbDHIPnjc
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