French defense firm Arquus will provide Ukraine with 50 Bastion armored vehicles as part of an agreement covering 61 units. The delivery is intended to enhance the mobility and protection of Ukrainian forces operating in high-risk combat zones.
This new batch comes after France previously transferred 11 Bastion troop carriers, which are already in service with Kyiv, alongside retired VAB armored vehicles from the French Army. The update was revealed in the latest report from the John Cockerill Group, Arquus’s parent company. Neither the exact cost nor the delivery schedule has been made public.
The Bastion is a 4×4 armored personnel carrier capable of carrying a crew of two plus eight soldiers. Its modular design allows for multiple configurations, including troop transport, reconnaissance, command, and medical evacuation. Built on the proven VLRA chassis, it is designed for rugged terrain.
The 12.5-ton vehicle offers STANAG 4569 ballistic and mine protection, can reach speeds of up to 110 kilometers per hour, and has a range of 1,000 kilometers. It is compatible with C-130 Hercules airlift operations and can be equipped with either 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine guns mounted on a ring or remote weapon station.
