Armenia Receives First Batch of French Bastion Armored Vehicles Instead of Ukraine
In a significant move to enhance its defense capabilities, Armenia has officially received the first batch of Bastion armored vehicles from the renowned French defense company Arquus, formerly known as Renault Trucks Defense. The announcement came to light through journalist and military analyst Leonid Nersisyan on Sunday, who shared photos of the armored vehicles spotted in the Georgian port of Poti en route to their final destination in Armenia.
Notably, the Bastion armored vehicles acquired by Armenia are the same units that Arquus had previously committed to delivering to Ukraine in 2022 from its existing stock of 24 units. The transfer of these vehicles to Ukraine had been initially reported by the French newspaper "La Tribune" on October 3, 2022, revealing that Arquus, a subsidiary of the Swedish group Volvo, had pledged to provide Ukraine with 20 Bastion armored
vehicles.
The Bastion armored vehicles hold strategic importance for Armenia, serving as a crucial step in fortifying the country's defense capabilities amid prevailing regional security concerns. Military analyst and Research Fellow at APRI Armenia, Leonid Nersisyan, expressed his insights on the acquisition, stating, "Armenia got the first batch of 21+ French Bastion APCs, delivered via the Georgian Poti port. Supposedly, it also confirms that 50 VAB MK3 mentioned in rumors before could also be part of existing contracts. What is most important is that Georgia is not hindering the logistics, despite Aliyev's attempts to put pressure on Tbilisi. At the same time, the leak of these photos from Poti can be done to somehow satisfy Azerbaijan."
In a glimpse into the capabilities of the Bastion armored vehicles, Canadian Defense Reporter Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo had the privilege of riding inside one of France's Bastion armored vehicles back in April 2023. She shared her experience on social media, stating, "Had the privilege today of riding inside and seeing in action one of #France’s Bastion armored vehicles made by @Arquus_Defense that could eventually be sent to Ukraine. Company officials say talks on this have been ongoing for some time but nothing finalized (24 in stock)."
The arrival of the Bastion armored vehicles marks a milestone in Armenia's urgent need to bolster its defense infrastructure and stands as a testament to France’s commitment to Armenia in the realm of military technology.
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