Media reports indicate that due to the absence of a Franco-Ukrainian agreement on the supply of these vehicles, Paris decided to sell them to Armenia.
In the Georgian port of Poti, over 20 French Bastion armored vehicles, acquired by Armenia, have been observed, as reported by Sarbaz.kz.
Simultaneously, information has surfaced that these are the vehicles that France declared in October of the previous year, within the framework of assistance to Ukraine, in quantities ranging from 20 to 24 units.
Back in April, the French weekly La Tribune reported that French modular Bastion armored vehicles would soon be handed over to the Ukrainian army. However, subsequent months did not signal any changes in this matter until these vehicles appeared in Georgia.
It is worth recalling that the delivery of armored vehicles was supposed to come directly from the manufacturer, not from the balance of the French army. Purchasing directly from the manufacturer entails payment, which is impossible without agreements.
The Bastion is a French multipurpose 4x4 wheeled armored vehicle produced by Arquus based on the VLRA 4x4 vehicle. It can have armor levels from 1 to 3 according to STANAG 4569 and 2a/2b according to STANAG 4569. Depending on the protection level, the vehicle's payload ranges from 1000 to 3000 kg, with a total weight of 12,000 kg. The Bastion accommodates up to 10 people and features a rich set of equipment and weaponry, thanks to its spacious cargo compartment. Weapons can be mounted on a rotating platform on the roof of the hull (also in a turret). Due to its modular design and the ability to transport various equipment, this vehicle can be used as a command vehicle, armored personnel carrier, wheeled tank destroyer, or reconnaissance vehicle.
