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2021-02-04

‏FORTRESS Mk2 Marches Ahead

FORTRESS Mk2 is one of the most advanced APC vehicles currently on the market.

More aggressive and better protected, the FORTRESS Mk2 is a modern, high-performance vehicle, well adapted to current and future operational commitments. It combines mobility, firepower and protection in a single multi-purpose vehicle. It is extremely mobile with its independent suspensions and high-power engine.

Designed for Purpose

Latest technologies and most advanced processes have come in handy to make the vehicle efficient and homogeneous.

The Fortress Mk2 is a 14.5-tonne armoured combat vehicle. Built on Arquus’ long-running experience in designing all-terrain military vehicles, it combines excellent weight/power ratio with exceptional off-road capabilities.

With its 340 hp engine, automatic drive and independent wheel suspensions, the Fortress is the perfect balance of weight/power ratio and payload capabilities. Its new armoured monocoque hull offers a large internal volume, as well as great protection against ballistic aggressions, mines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) without adding any weight. It is available in personnel carrier and logistics versions, offering high protection and high mobility.

Another huge advantage is that the Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) vehicle can be converted to ambulance and command post versions. The Fortress is already serving in Special Forces units.

The vehicle can be equipped with the latest vetronics suites such as Arquus’ Battlenet solution, as well as RCWS such as the Hornet for extra firepower and operational versatility. These factors are what make the FORTRESS Mk2 an agile, well-protected, well-armed vehicle capable of going on the offensive on all terrains and in all conditions.

In line with all formerly ACMAT vehicles, it is rustic, durable, reliable and modular, which simplifies and reduces maintenance needs. Incidentally, it can be configured in right or left hand drive.

High Level of Protection

The FORTRESS Mk2 is natively designed with very high levels of protection, both against ballistic threats and against mines and IEDs, thanks to an innovative, under-body architecture.

This new feature makes the FORTRESS Mk2 one of the most protected 4×4 APCs in the market.

What is commendable is that this increase in protection has been achieved without any increase in mass, thanks to the use of the latest Arquus technologies. The protection level of Fortress MK2 is in compliance with STANAG 4569 standard.

Mobility Advantage

Ease of mobility is a prime requirement.

The FORTRESS Mk2 marches ahead at ease in all circumstances, off-roads as well as for obstacle crossing, thanks to its independent suspensions and proven chassis, which is the result of decades of operational experience. The FORTRESS Mk2 retains the 6-cylinder 340-horsepower engine, which gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 23 horsepower per tonne, a top speed of 120 km/h and a range of 1,200 kilometres.

The FORTRESS Mk2 can carry and accompany the infantry on the battlefield, while providing operational fire support. Its exceptional mobility and interior configuration allows for the safe transport of a full fighting group and their equipment, on all terrains, and with a high level of comfort, ensuring that they are well rested both physically and mentally before the action. Fortress Mk2 is air transportable by C-130 and A400M military transport aircraft for rapid deployment during missions.

Superior Fire Power

Lacking on superior fire power could dilute all the advantages of the vehicle. The makers have clearly taken a note of this. With its wide range of remote or circularly turrets (7.2 mm, LG 40, 12.7 up to 30 mm), installed on a monocoque hull, the Fortress presents very high firepower under very high protection.

The FORTRESS Mk2 has been specially designed to carry Arquus’ Hornet range of Remote-Controlled Weapons Stations (RCWS). As part of the Scorpion programme, Arquus has created this new French line of RCWS which accommodates a wide range of weaponry, from 5.56mm to 12.7mm, including 7.62mm and HK40.

Common equipment for all the new combat vehicles of the Scorpion programme, these systems will equip the French Army’s new combat vehicles.

The FORTRESS Mk2 is equipped with Arquus’ Battlenet vetronics suite, designed to operate with the Hornet turrets and featuring Blue Force Tracking (BFT).

In addition to the Hornet RCWS, the FORTRESS Mk2 can accommodate a wide variety of weapons and systems, such as 7.62mm, 12.7mm or 14.5mm protected manual circulars, grenade launchers or acoustic and laser detectors.

Three Variants of Hornet

At Eurosatory 2018, ARQUUS showcased three variants of its remote weapon stations under the new commercial name, the Hornet, the Hornet Lite, and the Hornet S (Standard). All three variants of Hornet are electrically powered with a traverse of 360° and elevation from -20° to +60°.

The basic version, called Hornet, is stabilised only in 3 axes. It can be armed with a 7.62 mm or a 12.7mm machine gun as well as a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The sighting system is mounted to the right of the main armament that includes a TV camera, thermal channel and laser range finder. The ammunition box is fitted to the left side of the turret with 300 12.7mm rounds, or 1,000 7.62mm rounds or 64 rounds of 40mm grenades.

The turret is controlled from inside the vehicle using a screen control panel and joystick. The Galix is a passive countermeasures system manufactured by the French company Lacroix. The system is able to detect a threat and launches smoke grenades to hide the vehicle. It can work in manual or autonomous mode.

The Hornet Lite, the light version in the family of Hornet RCWS, can be fitted with one 7.62mm machine gun, but can carry only 400 ammunitions of 7.62mm.

The Hornet S (Standard) is the most sophisticated version in the Arquus Hornet RCWS family. The turret can be armed with one 7.62mm machine gun with an ammo box of 550 rounds of ammunition ready to fire. The machine gun of the Hornet S RWS is mounted in the centre of the weapon station while a panoramic sight is located to the left side with the ammo box. The Hornet S is electrically powered and stabilised in three axes. It has a traverse of 360° and elevation from -20° to 60°.

The family of Hornet RWS shares common elements to reduce through-life cycle costs. All of these Hornet RWS have common features including electrical firing, automatic cocking, round counter, and expended cartridge case and links recovery. They are connected to the electronic architecture of the platform and have embedded simulation compatibility.

Service Factor

The company is innovating especially through advances in eSupport, which provides solutions based on feedback analysis, the development of HUMS (Health and Usage Monitoring System) and decision-making tools. Arquus is also developing remote assistance solutions based on the use of smart glasses.

Thanks to its logistics platform in Garchizy and its international network, Arquus can guarantee the availability of spare parts anywhere in the world on short notice.

Arquus is exhibiting at stand 07-B30

Reference Text/Photo:www.arquus-defense.com

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