Arquus and Thales strengthen their cooperation on next-generation mobile fire support capabilities

At Eurosatory 2026, Arquus and Thales announce the signing, this Thursday, June 18, 2026, of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening their cooperation around a mobile fire support solution combining tactical mobility, crew protection and firepower. This signing takes place on the John Cockerill Defense stand, where the SHERPA Scout 120 MC is being presented, featuring an onboard mortar capability that integrates Arquus’s SHERPA vehicle with the 120mm rifled mortar developed by Thales.

As the result of the complementary expertise of the two French manufacturers, this solution addresses the growing needs of ground forces in terms of mobility, responsiveness and precision fire support. It combines the proven performance of the Thales rifled mortar, with a range of up to 13 kilometers, with the mobility and protection of the SHERPA, a benchmark 4×4 vehicle already deployed by numerous armed forces worldwide across all types of fields.

The SHERPA Scout 120 MC enables a “shoot and scoot” capability, essential in modern operational environments. Thanks to its rapid deployment, it reduces crew exposure to counter-battery threats while ensuring a high level of operational effectiveness. The solution allows for the deployment of a 120mm rifled mortar while retaining additional payload capacity, meeting the needs of units engaged in high-intensity operations.

This configuration also benefits from the inherent qualities of the SHERPA family, a true “Swiss Army knife” of tactical mobility, capable of carrying up to 4 personnel and operating in demanding environments. Available in several configurations and versions to meet a wide range of mission requirements, the SHERPA has established itself as one of the benchmark tactical vehicles in its category. With more than 1,300 vehicles sold across every continent, qualified by the DGA (France’s defense procurement agency) and compliant with NATO standards, it has proven its robustness, reliability and effectiveness across numerous theaters of operation.

The version presented at Eurosatory carries a 120mm mortar with 32 rounds on board, while maintaining a high level of tactical mobility and protection meeting STANAG 4569 requirements. The vehicle on display features enhanced ballistic protection, mine protection, a Hornet Lite remote weapon station armed with a 7.62mm machine gun, and a winch, giving the crew a high level of survivability and autonomy in the field.

The system also benefits from a scalable architecture allowing the integration of numerous pieces of equipment depending on operational needs, including tropicalized air conditioning systems, fire suppression systems, or enhanced mine protection levels.

With this signing, Arquus and Thales confirm their shared commitment to developing and promoting sovereign solutions capable of meeting the needs of French and international armed forces in the context of high-intensity engagements.