VT4 light 4x4 tactical

The VT4 from ACMAT, a subsidiary of Arquus (formerly Renault Trucks Defense), is a light 4x4 tactical vehicle based on the Ford Everest II Phase 1. Its development aims to replace the Peugeot P4s of the French Army, particularly in Land Force.

In 2015, the Ministry of the Armed Forces decided to order 1,000 Ford Ranger 4x4s to replace the aging P4. This draws criticism for choosing a foreign company, but the ministry defends its decision because of an existing contract for another 4,000 vehicles, thus giving rise to the VLTP-NP program.

The contract with Arquus (RTD at the time) provided for the production and delivery of 3,700 new VT4 vehicles, as part of the VT45 project announced in December 2016 by the then Minister of Defense, Jean-Yves Le Drian .

The military programming law provides for the purchase of 4,380 VT4s by 2025, a large part of which has already been completed with 4,200 vehicles received in January 2023 and the last batch of ten vehicles in July 2023.

The VT4 is designed to carry five soldiers or four fighters equipped with the FELIN system, offering modern features such as air conditioning, soundproof cabin, hill start assist, descent control, ABS and ESP.

It can also be equipped with advanced communication systems such as SITEL, two PR4G radios with integrated encryption, and a DAGR type satellite positioning system. ACMAT is carrying out modifications on the Ford Everest to transform it into a VT4, in particular by raising the vehicle, reinforcing the controls for better resistance, and adding hooks to make it air transportable.