Engineering:ACMAT Bastion

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ACMAT Bastion
MINUSMA Goundam 2015.jpg
A MINUSMA Bastion APC in Northern Mali, 2015
TypeArmoured personnel carrier
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service2012–present
Wars
  • Insurgency in the Sahel
  • Somali Civil War
  • 2015 offensive against Boko Haram
  • Yemeni Civil War
  • 2019 Gabon Coup D'etat
Production history
DesignerACMAT
Manufacturer
Variants
  • Bastion
  • PATSAS
  • Fortress
Specifications
Mass12 tonnes[4]
Length6 m (19 ft 8 in)[4]
Width2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)[4]
Height2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)[4]
Crew2
Passengers8–10
ArmourSTANAG 4569 level 1 to level 3[4]
Main
armament
7.62 mm or 12.7 mm ring or remote control turret[5]
Engine180 hp (130 kW)
Suspensionwheeled
Operational
range
1,400 km (870 mi)[6]
Speed110 km/h (68 mph)[4]

The ACMAT Bastion is a modern French armoured personnel carrier, manufactured by ACMAT.

The Bastion was available to customers in North America and Oceania via Mack Defense.[7][8] As of 2021, AM General is making the Bastion.[3]

Design

Its chassis is based on the ACMAT VLRA.[4] In 2018, Arquus, owner of ACMAT, signed a contract with AM General to propose the Bastion as an armored ambulance for the U.S. Army.[6]

Bastion PATSAS

A Bastion PATSAS of the Regiment of Presidential Security (left) during the 2015 Burkinabé coup d'état.

The Bastion PATSAS (PATrouille SAS) is a variant designed for special forces.[6] It is lighter (10 tonnes) and carries 5 equipped soldiers. It is armed with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun and can carry 3 additional medium machine guns.[9]

Fortress

The Fortress, formerly Bastion HM (High Mobility), is an up-armored Bastion, with a more powerful motor (340 hp) and an independent suspension to improve its mobility.[10] It exists in two versions, APC and armored logistic vehicle.[11]

Service history

A Bastion APC of the loyalist National Gendarmerie during the 2015 Burkinabé coup d'état.

West Africa

The Chadian détachement d'action rapide (rapid action detachment) used the Bastion PATSAS during the 2013 intervention in Mali.[12] The Chadian Army also fielded Bastions during the 2015 intervention against Boko Haram in Far North Cameroon and Nigeria.[13] The Cameroonian Bastion APCs, nicknamed as Cyclones, have been deployed in Northern Cameroon with the Battalion d'intervention rapide elite force.[1]

Burkina Faso deployed its Bastions in peacekeeping operations in Northern Mali, under the MINUSMA banner.[14] They have also been used in internal security missions, Bastion PATSAS being for instance fielded by the regiment de sécurité présidentielle before its disbandment in 2015.[15] One Bastion was destroyed by Ansar ul Islam in the 2016 Nassoumbou attack.[16]

In Mali, the 134th Escadron de Reconnaissance (Recce Squadron) was trained to operate the Bastion APC by the EUTM Mali.[17]

East Africa

In 2015, the United States Department of Defense bought 62 Bastion APC variants commercialised by Mack Trucks to supply various African forces, some of them, such as Uganda, being involved in AMISOM.[6]

Arabian Peninsula

Some of the Saudi Arabian Bastion PATSAS were reportedly used in the intervention in Yemen.[18]

Operators

Mack Bastion APCs being delivered to the Ugandan contingent of the AMISOM, 2017.
  •  Armenia - 24 Bastion APCs received in November 2023.[19]
  •  Burkina Faso – 10 Bastions received in 2012.[20] At least 8 Bastion PATSAS and some Bastion APCs in service.[21] More than 100 in service according to Jane's.[14]
  •  Cameroon – 23 Bastion APCs received in 2015–2016, supplied via U.S. DoD.[20] 15 Bastions received in late 2017.[1]
  •  Congo-Brazzaville - Two Bastions acquired for the National Police.[22]
  •  Chad – 22 Bastion PATSAS received in 2013.[9]
  •  Ethiopia – 12 Bastion APCs received in 2016, supplied via U.S. DoD.[20][23] In 2018, an industry source explained to Jane's that none has been actually supplied.[1]
  •  Gabon – 5 Bastion APCs.[24]
  •  Ivory Coast – at least 9 Bastions in 2018.[25]
  •  Kenya – 12 Bastion APCs received in 2018, supplied via U.S. DoD.[26]
  •  Kosovo - 3 Bastion APCs has been seen used by Kosovo Police, provided by AM General.[27]
  •  Mali – 5 Bastion APCs received in 2016 for the Malian military.[20][22]
  •  Saudi Arabia – 71 Bastion PATSAS received in 2016.[20] Used by Saudi special forces units.[28]
  •  Senegal – 36 Bastion APCs and 2 PATSAS,[29] 7 were bought in December 2017 by the Senegalese Gendarmerie for riot control.[30] An additional 29 were procured in 2019 for the Army with financial aid from Saudi Arabia.[31]
  •  Somalia – 13 Bastion APCs received in 2016, supplied via U.S. DoD.[20][23] In 2018, an industry source explained to Jane's that none have actually been supplied.[1]
  •  Sweden – some Bastion HMs supplied from 2016, used by the Särskilda operationsgruppen.[32]
  •  Tanzania - several dozens of Bastion APCS leased from the UN for peacekeeping missions.[22]
  •  Togo – 30 Bastion PATSAS received in 2014 for the Togolese military.[22][20][33]
  •  Tunisia – 4 Bastion APCs received in 2016, supplied via U.S. DoD.[20][23]
  •  Uganda – 19 Bastion APCs received in 2017, supplied via U.S. DoD.[20][23] A total of 31 have been reportedly supplied.[1]

Evaluation only

  •  France – Bastion PATSAS evaluated by the French special forces.[34]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 de Cherisey, Erwan (6 June 2018). "Cameroon's Bastion APCs now in action". Jane's Defence Weekly. http://j7dw4xlk473roufa2qi1siiq-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Cameroons-Bastion-APCs-now-in-action.pdf. Retrieved 9 January 2019. 
  2. ↑ As of October 2017, using the Wayback machine on the official MACK Defense website indicates that it no longer shows the Bastion family.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Bastion by AM General". https://www.amgeneral.com/what-we-do/platforms-automotive-systems/vehicle-lineup/bastion-by-am-general/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "Bastion APC ARQUUS: 4x4 Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier Vehicle France". 9 October 2018. https://www.armyrecognition.com/french_army_france_wheeled_armoured_vehicle_uk/bastion_apc_acmat_armoured_personnel_infantry_carrier_technical_data_sheet_specifications_pictures.html#details. 
  5. ↑ "Bastion". https://www.arquus-defense.com/bastion. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Lagneau, Laurent (8 October 2018). "Le groupe français ARQUUS s'allie avec AM General pour tenter d'imposer son blindé Bastion aux États-Unis" (in fr). http://www.opex360.com/2018/10/08/le-groupe-francais-arquus-sallie-avec-am-general-pour-tenter-dimposer-son-blinde-bastion-aux-etats-unis/. 
  7. ↑ "MACK Bastion.PDF". https://pdfhost.io/v/z8xA15NL0_MACK_Bastionpdf.pdf. 
  8. ↑ https://sotatalousseura-fi-bin.directo.fi/@Bin/a6669c15439b7a5fc3ddc07326e47b1c/1571276489/application/pdf/177947/Volvo[yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}] Trucks presentation Sotataloudellinen seura 25112013.pdf
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lagneau, Laurent (19 February 2013). "Les forces armées tchadiennes ont reçu leurs premiers véhicules blindés Bastion Patsas" (in fr). http://www.opex360.com/2013/02/19/les-forces-armees-tchadiennes-ont-recu-leurs-premiers-vehicules-blindes-bastion-patsas/. 
  10. ↑ "RTD élargit sa gamme Bastion" (in fr). 16 June 2014. http://forcesoperations.com/rtd-elargit-sa-gamme-bastion/. 
  11. ↑ "Fortress". https://www.arquus-defense.com/fortress. 
  12. ↑ Husson, Jean-Pierre (September 2013). "Les FATIM au combat : Premier engagement réussi pour le Bastion PATSAS" (in fr). Raid (328): 70–71. 
  13. ↑ Finucci, Francesco (14 September 2015). "It starts here – from DSEI to Chad". https://www.caat.org.uk/issues/arms-fairs/dsei/it-starts-here/2015/patsas-to-chad. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Binnie, Jeremy; de Cherisey, Erwan (2017). "New-model African armies". Jane's. http://www.janes.com/images/assets/520/71520/New-model_African_armies.pdf. 
  15. ↑ "Burkina Faso: le désarmement du RSP avance au compte-goutte" (in fr). Radio France Internationale. 28 September 2015. http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20150927-burkina-faso-desarmement-rsp-munitions-vehicules-blindes-armee-regiment-securite-pr. 
  16. ↑ Nsaibia, Héni; Weiss, Caleb (March 2018). "Ansaroul Islam and the Growing Terrorist Insurgency in Burkina Faso". CTC Sentinel 11 (3): 21–26. https://ctc.usma.edu/ansaroul-islam-growing-terrorist-insurgency-burkina-faso/. Retrieved 2019-01-05. 
  17. ↑ "Mali: training in the use of the armored vehicle "Bastion"". 22 February 2016. http://en.difesaonline.it/news-forze-armate/missioni/mali-addestramento-allutilizzo-del-veicolo-blindato-bastion. 
  18. ↑ Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme; Observatoire des armements; Ligue des Droits de l’Homme; Sisters Arab for Human Rights (April 2018) (in fr). Ventes d'armes françaises : "indices de présence" au Yémen et nécessaire refonte des mécanismes de contrôle des exportations (Report). p. 13. https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/fidh_yemen_final_report.pdf. Retrieved 2019-01-05. 
  19. ↑ Malyasov, Dylan. "Armenia receives French armored vehicles instead of Ukraine". Defence Blog. https://defence-blog.com/armenia-receives-bastion-armored-vehicles-arquus/. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 20.8 "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. 
  21. ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2016). "Chapter Nine: Sub-Saharan Africa". The Military Balance 2016. 116. Routlegde. 432. doi:10.1080/04597222.2016.1127636. ISBN 9781857438352. https://www.offiziere.ch/wp-content/uploads-001/2016/10/2016-Chapter-Nine-Sub-Saharan-Africa.pdf. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 (in en) Renault Trucks Defense valued at 772 million of euros?. OIDA Strategic Intelligence Case Study #2. pp. 9–11. https://oidagroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2017-08-02_OIDASI_CS2-RTD.pdf. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 "United States ordered Acmat Bastion APCs for African partners". 13 October 2015. http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41026:united-states-ordered-acmat-bastion-apcs-for-african-partners&catid=50:Land&Itemid=105. 
  24. ↑ Military Balance 2016, p. 446.
  25. ↑ "Cayman customer identified as Ivory Coast". 10 August 2018. http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52711:cayman-customer-identified-as-ivory-coast&catid=50:Land&Itemid=105. 
  26. ↑ de Cherisey, Erwan (22 November 2018). "Kenya receives Bastion vehicles". Jane's Defence Weekly. https://www.janes.com/article/84775/kenya-receives-bastion-vehicles. 
  27. ↑ "Kosovo Police Special Forces receive Arquus Bastion armored vehicles | Defense News April 2021 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2021 | Archive News year". https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_april_2021_global_security_army_industry/kosovo_police_special_forces_receive_arquus_bastion_armored_vehicles.html. 
  28. ↑ "French-made Bastion PATSAS Special Forces Saudi Arabia 10105171 | May 2017 Global Defense Security news industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2017 | Archive News year". https://www.armyrecognition.com/may_2017_global_defense_security_news_industry/french-made_bastion_patsas_special_forces_saudi_arabia_10105171.html. 
  29. ↑ République du Sénégal (23 May 2017). "Rapport annuel sur les exportations et les importations d'armes classiques, conformément à l'article 13(3) du traité sur le commerce des armes: Rapport annuel 2017" (in fr). https://thearmstradetreaty.org/download/97d87fa1-a754-3a8a-89ad-04f8ef4a2ad9. 
  30. ↑ "Equipements : La gendarmerie sénégalaise acquiert 13 blindés PVP et neuf Bastion" (in fr). 6 December 2017. https://www.leral.net/Equipements-La-gendarmerie-senegalaise-acquiert-13-blindes-PVP-et-neuf-Bastion_a216306.html. 
  31. ↑ de Cherisey, Erwan (11 April 2019). "Senegal military parade reveals new acquisitions". Paris. https://www.janes.com/article/87837/senegal-military-parade-reveals-new-acquisitions. 
  32. ↑ White, Andrew (15 June 2016). "Eurosatory: Swedish SF vehicles drive in". Shephard Media. https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/eurosatory-swedish-sf-vehicles-drive/. 
  33. ↑ Military Balance 2016, p. 474.
  34. ↑ "First order of ACMAT Bastion PATSAS Special Forces protected vehicle for Tchad Presidential Guard". 17 October 2012. https://www.armyrecognition.com/october_2012_new_army_military_defence_industry_uk/first_order_acmat_bastion_patsas_special_forces_protected_vehicle_tchad_presidential_guard_1710125.html. 

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