News

2021-04-13

Arquus Launches Scarabee

A leading company in land defence, Arquus, presented its jewel - the Scarabee - for the first time abroad at IDEX 2021 in Abu Dhabi recently.

Arquus’ most advanced and very first hybrid-drive armoured vehicle incorporates the latest and innovative technologies developed by the company, including energy management, suspension height adjustment, independent rear steering axle, among many others.

In 2018, Arquus decided to fund the development of an armoured vehicle with controlled tonnage, integrating the latest operational functionalities required and exploiting the best emerging technologies, which would be capable of fulfilling future reconnaissance missions in the most demanding environments and organising engagement support in collaborative combat.

It was this vision that led to the birth of the versatile and modular Scarabee, which aims to provide units with a platform that could make the difference in the most arduous operations.

Built on the decades of experience designing light armoured and reconnaissance vehicles, such as the AMD, the AML, the EBR or the VBL, the Scarabee has been precisely crafted to combine protection, stealth and high mobility.

It has been specifically thought to answer the needs of the armies as well as the needs of the crews on the field. Light, compact, fast and well protected, it is a difficult vehicle to spot, acquire, lock and to hit.

The Scarabee is a true revolution in the way reconnaissance missions are envisioned and conducted.

The Scarabee is now available in three different versions and is ready to roll out for action.

Three Different Versions

In Abu Dhabi, the Scarabee was presented in its PATSAS (Patrol SAS) version, specifically thought for the needs of Special Forces units, and equipped with a Hornet remote controlled weapon system (RCWS) fitted with a 12.7mm machine gun.

In its Reconnaissance version, the Scarabee brings superior firepower on the battlefield thanks to its 30mm cannon, effectively combining stealth and offensive capabilities.

The third version is aimed at Security, Counter-Terrorist and urban operations units. It carries three operators and is natively fitted with Arquus’ Battlenet battle management system (BMS) for increased performance while in action.

These three versions are all built on a same base to allow for commonality, maintenance optimisation and reduced cost of ownership.

The Scarabee has been aptly designed to redefine the standards for reconnaissance and light armoured vehicles.

It is able to hide or take cover behind the smallest obstacles, allowing optimal discretion in front of the enemy lines. With its 8T Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and its compact size, it can be transported under slung by helicopter and is C130 compatible. It can, therefore, be quickly deployed wherever needed.

Crab-like Movements

The Scarabee can adjust its ground clearance at all times: a higher level is designed for off-roading and obstacle crossing, the lower one is for transport, air drop, and to further enhance stealth while in a firing or observation position.

It is equipped with independent steering rear wheels, allowing very short U-turns (as tight as 11m) in compartmentalised environments such as woods or urban zones. Importantly, such features also allow for crab-like movements, with the rear axle parallel to the front while turning. That unique capability allows to surge from cover and back without having to manoeuvre, or to keep facing the enemy when moving to his side.

A hydraulic cylinder, fitted with integrated sensors, controls the movements of the rear undercarriage. The design of this function is the property of Arquus.

With its 300hp V6 diesel engine, the Scarabee benefits from an exceptional power-to-weight ratio of 40hp per tonne, allowing very high speeds in all conditions (up to 130km/h), as well as exceptional acceleration capabilities. The V6 engine, due to its construction and its location at the rear of the vehicle, allows very quiet operation in hybrid mode.

100 per cent Electric Mode

The Scarabee was presented publicly for the first time in its all-electric mode in October 2020 during the Arquus Days in Satory, France.

Thanks to its 70kW hybrid engine, the vehicle offers the stealthiest acoustic footprint on the market when in 100 per cent electric mode. Its high-capacity (12kWh) li-ion batteries enable the Scarabee to travel the last kilometres to target silently and get as close as needed to the enemy without getting detected, both for reconnaissance and attack purposes.

They also allow for very long, silent watches with all systems on, including air conditioning. The Scarabee is thus able to approach, observe, analyse, and get back to safety before transmitting its reports to the commanding unit without starting the Diesel engine. These new capabilities completely redefine reconnaissance missions.

The Scarabee’s highly efficient electric machine also means that the batteries can be recharged rapidly with the thermal engine running idle with very little noise.

The high level of energy available also allows the use of high power-consuming systems, such as drones, laser designation systems, short range anti drone laser, radar, electronic warfare systems or countermeasures. This power production and storage capacity will also enable installing the equipment of tomorrow, thus guaranteeing a long life in service.

If needed, the parallel hybrid drive also allows the combination of power of both engines in “boost mode” to accelerate even faster to avoid an immediate threat, to get to the objective or to bypass an enemy position.

The electric machine then offers a 100HP boost to the internal combustion engine making this 8-tonne light armoured vehicle one of the fastest in the market. The choice of a hybrid system reduces the fuel consumption and cuts the need for logistics and maintenance. It offers redundancy, increasing survivability if one of the engines is hit.

High-Level Ballistic Protection

The Scarabee comes with a very high-level ballistic protection for its class. The vehicle is built around a survivability cell designed for the protection of the crew against all threats. Its interior space is specifically designed to optimise communication and collaboration within the crew. Depending on the version, the Scarabee can accommodate 3 or 4 crew members, all able to communicate efficiently with each other, through voice or through the built-in intercoms.

The pilot is seated in a forward position to allow for exceptional, 200° visibility, enabling accurate spotting of the surroundings, especially against IEDs. Visibility is even greater with a combat system such as the HORNETRCWS, which enables monitoring the environment with the highest accuracy both during the day and the night.

The Scarabee is designed to accommodate the most advanced C4ISR systems, allowing perfect integration into any combat unit or battle team. Designed as a combat vehicle, it can load a complete array of weapons. These systems range from small-calibre RCWS to 40mm grenade launchers and all generations of missiles, from the Milan ATGM to the Missile Moyenne Portée, its state-of-the-art successor. It is specifically optimised to carry a Hornet range RCWS.

Different Weapon Models

The Hornet remote controlled weapon stations range has been qualified by the French Army for the Scorpion programme. These remote controlled weapon stations equip the current and future Scorpion vehicles. HORNET provides the main armament of the GRIFFON and the secondary armament of the JAGUAR.

Among the different weapon models are the Hornet, the Hornet Lite and the Hornet S, i.e. a machine gunner station that can be controlled from inside the vehicle. This equipment is manufactured in France. The current customer orders place HORNET as one of the major remote weapon station suppliers.

The Hornet RCWS is equipped with superior ballistic protection and an automatic smoke grenade launcher mounted on an independent ring. With the addition of a gunfire locator, the Hornet can automatically turn and face the threat, while also engaging the smoke protection, when the Scarabee is illuminated by a laser rangefinder or a beam rider. As the weapon axis and the smoke grenade axis are independent, the gunner can keep the weapon focused on the tactical mission underway.

The Scarabee offers unmatched versatility, making it the perfect tool for missions such as reconnaissance, tank guidance, hunter-killer, light cavalry, quick response force, anti-tank, fire support, urban combat, and Special Forces.

Ready For Action

Easy to steer thanks to its central driving position, its large field of vision, its variable ground clearance, and its independent rear axle, Scarabee is able to quickly and discreetly bring the firepower needed. This concept car, developed on own funds, allows Arquus to test the technology of tomorrow in real life.

Reference Text/Photo:

www.arquus-defense.com

Photo: Nicolas Broquedis

Comments (7) Views (10579 ) Print

Send To Friend