France has made significant progress in fulfilling its contract with Armenia for the supply of Bastion armored personnel carriers. Nearly half of the 26 units agreed upon in the 2023 deal have now been manufactured, with the completion of 10 vehicles reported by Caspian News. The delivery of these units is anticipated to take place later this year, underscoring a commitment to bolster the Armenian Armed Forces amid ongoing security challenges in the region.
This contract follows a previous agreement in which France supplied Armenia with a tranche of 24 Bastion vehicles. Together, these deliveries are expected to significantly enhance Armenia’s land force capabilities. Remarkably, the initial batch of Bastion vehicles was originally intended for Ukraine; however, Kyiv opted to cancel its order due to concerns regarding the vehicle’s light chassis protection, which limits its suitability for frontline service.
Developed by Arquus Defense, based in Yvelines, the Bastion is a robust 12,000-kilogram (approximately 26,455-pound) armored personnel carrier designed to transport up to 10 troops. Measuring 6 meters (20 feet) in length, it can be customized with NATO-standard armor ranging from level 1 to level 3, depending on the specific needs of the user.
The Bastion is equipped to support a variety of armaments, including a remote-controlled turret, a 7.62-millimeter machine gun, or a 12.7-millimeter heavy machine gun. It is powered by a 180-horsepower engine, enabling the vehicle to achieve speeds up to 110 kilometers (68 miles) per hour and to maintain an operational range of 1,400 kilometers (870 miles).
Arquus offers several variants of the Bastion, including standard, special forces, and heavy armor models, as well as an export version produced in collaboration with AM General. The delivery of these vehicles to Armenia highlights France’s role in enhancing regional security and defense capabilities in a time of heightened tensions.
