Cockerill concludes purchase of Arquus
The Arquus MAV’Rx was displayed with a John Cockerill turret. (Photo: Arquus)
The purchase brings together the firepower of Cockerill, which includes a range of turrets and guns, and the vehicle line of Arquus, which includes light terrain, reconnaissance and armoured vehicles.
Belgian company John Cockerill Defense announced on 2 June that it had completed the purchase of French military vehicle maker Arquus with the French and Belgian governments both signing MoUs to support the purchase and each country taking a 10% holding in John Cockerill.
The acquisition of the company from Volvo vehicles began in January and brings together Arquus fleet of vehicles and John Cockerill’s range of turrets. The company has a stated aim of an annual turnover of €1 billion (US$1.1 billion) and a workforce of 2,000 by 2026.
Arquus’s range of vehicles for the French defence forces has included Trapper VT4 light all-terrain vehicles, Véhicule Blindé Léger (VBL) 4x4 reconnaissance and liaison vehicles and Griffon 6x6 multirole armoured vehicles.
Among John Cockerill products, the Cockerill 1030 uncrewed turret can be armed with a 30x113mm chain gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. Other products by the company include the 105mm-armed XC-8 turret, and the Cockerill LCTS 90 MP, 3000 and CSE 90LP turret systems.
At last month’s Eurosatory, Arquus unveiled the MAV’Rx which features a monocoque welded steel structure with applique passive armour and is powered by a front-mounted Volvo diesel engine producing 400hp, paired with a ZF fully automatic transmission.
The prototype shown was equipped with the John Cockerill Defence Cockerill Protected Weapon Station, which includes a stabilised 25mm cannon and a 7.62mm machine gun. The vehicle also had the Pillar gunfire detection system commonly used in French Army armoured vehicles.
More from Land Warfare
-
![Networked advantage: keeping unmanned systems in the loop with battlefield radio technology]()
Networked advantage: keeping unmanned systems in the loop with battlefield radio technology
Unmanned systems are powerful intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets and communication tools, but are often isolated from wider networks, limiting their potential. Industry is now tackling this challenge, empowering UxVs to act as integrated nodes across domains.
-
![“A staggering rate of change”: how experience combating IEDs is being applied to the C-UAS arena]()
“A staggering rate of change”: how experience combating IEDs is being applied to the C-UAS arena
The scale of the current escalation in drone attacks is fuelling demand for C-UAS technology that must address a rapidly evolving and expanding threat. Against this background, important lessons can be learned from the battle against IEDs, with networked responses and dispersed capabilities essential to deliver enduring protection.
-
![Lockheed Martin plans a major expansion in Canada following the HIMARS acquisition]()
Lockheed Martin plans a major expansion in Canada following the HIMARS acquisition
The HIMARS acquisition could deliver launchers within 18 months while driving new investments in Canadian manufacturing, technology and defence supply chains.
