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France Arquus
Scarabee
A low-profile, hybrid diesel-electric 4x4 light armored vehicle from Arquus for reconnaissance and scouting, with four-wheel steering and adjustable-height suspension that let it retreat from cover without exposing its silhouette. First shown publicly at IDEX 2021.
In service since 2021
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
French export-licensed
CIEEMG inter-ministerial approval; broadly export-oriented.
Channel: DGA / direct commercial
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
In service since 2021. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Competitive field
No comparable systems in its class from another manufacturer in the WeaponSpecs database yet. That is a gap in this catalog, not evidence that none exist. Browse the class →
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Overview
Scarabee is Arquus's demonstrator/production-track light-class high-mobility tactical vehicle, developed to give a four-person crew a compact, hybrid-powered platform for reconnaissance, scouting and support missions. A V6 diesel engine works with a 70kW electric drive (and an optional 12kWh lithium-ion battery pack) to permit brief silent/low-signature electric-only movement, while four-wheel steering and fully independent, adjustable-height suspension give it tight turning and a low ground profile for concealment. It is protected to STANAG 4569 standards against mines and ballistic threats and can be fitted with a Hornet remote-controlled weapon station, Milan or MMP (Missile Moyenne Portee) anti-tank guided missiles, and smoke-grenade dischargers. The vehicle is sized to be sling-transportable under a Chinook or carried internally by C-130 and A400M transports.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 130 km/h |
|---|
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | Hornet remote-controlled weapon station (7.62mm machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher) |
|---|---|
| Secondary armament Additional weapons: coaxial MG, remote weapon station, gun pods. | Optional Milan or MMP (Missile Moyenne Portee) anti-tank guided missiles |
Protection
Armor, countermeasures and survivability.
| Armor Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified. | STANAG 4569 mine and ballistic protection |
|---|---|
| Countermeasures Self-protection: chaff, flares, DIRCM, towed decoys, smoke dischargers, jammers. | Smoke grenade launcher ring |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 5.25 m |
|---|---|
| Width Overall width, matters for rail/road transport of vehicles. | 2.1 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 2 m |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 8,000 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 4 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | V6 diesel with 70kW hybrid-electric drive (optional 12kWh lithium-ion battery) |
|---|---|
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 300 hp |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Hybrid diesel-electric |
Specifications compiled from public Arquus and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-08-24.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) KJ-2000 (Mainring) 
Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS) Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Arquus Scarabee? +
The Arquus Scarabee has a maximum speed of 130 km/h.
How much does the Arquus Scarabee weigh? +
The Arquus Scarabee has a combat weight of 8,000 kg.
How many crew does the Arquus Scarabee require? +
The Arquus Scarabee requires a crew of 4.
What is the main armament of the Arquus Scarabee? +
The Arquus Scarabee's primary weapon is the Hornet remote-controlled weapon station (7.62mm machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher).
What engine does the Arquus Scarabee use? +
The Arquus Scarabee is powered by the V6 diesel with 70kW hybrid-electric drive (optional 12kWh lithium-ion battery).
What is the Arquus Scarabee used for? +
The Arquus Scarabee is a other typically used for reconnaissance, scouting.
How much does the Arquus Scarabee cost? +
Arquus Scarabee: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
