ARQUUS delivers the first 15 TRM2000 RIPs to the French forces
On January 13, 2020, the Arquus site in Saint Nazaire handed over the first 15 TRM2000s to the teams of the Integrated Structure for the Maintenance in Operational Condition of Land Equipment (Structure Intégrée du Maintien en Condition Opérationnelle des Matériels Terrestres, SIMMT) and the Land Maintenance Industry Service (Service de la Maintenance Industrielle Terrestre, SMITer). This is an important milestone in the vehicle’s industrial renovation programme, which began at the end of 2018, and which will enter cruising speed in 2020. This delivery crowns a real performance by the Arquus teams, who were able to meet extremely short deadlines in a very demanding programme in terms of obsolescence management, availability of parts and industrial organization.
The TRM2000’s Private Industrial Repair (RIP, Réparation Industrielle Privée) programme is the 7th truck support programme supported by Arquus, after the six RIP programmes included in the MSSPL contract (Marché de Soutien en Service Poids Lourds, Heavy Vehicle Service Support Market). It is the result of close collaboration with SIMMT, SMITer, the Office of Contract Management and Industrial Partnerships (Bureau Conduite des Contrats et Partenariats Industriels BCCP) and the 13th Material Support Base (Base de Soutien du MATériel, BSMAT), which also renovated 15 TRM2000 at the same time.
This RIP programme aims to extend the operational life of the TRM2000, which entered service between 1982 and 1992, and which now have between 28 and 38 years of service in the most demanding theaters of operations. These tactical vehicles are highly appreciated by the forces for their lightness, compactness and mobility.
Studies on the renovation of the TRM2000 began in October 2018. In March 2019, the programme is launched, with the aim of delivering 15 vehicles by year end. This is a real industrial challenge, since the TRM2000 is a vehicle that is no longer supported, whose spare parts are no longer produced, and which is confronted with many obsolescence. This challenge will be met thanks to constant mobilization in the service of the forces, as well as the know-how developed on the other RIPs supported by the industrial and support teams of Arquus.
The first diagnostics on TRM 2000 took place last May, and the production line launch in September 2019. Meanwhile, at the end of July, the Saint-Nazaire factory is also asked to ensure the painting of vehicles, in addition to the actual repair site. On January 13, 2020, the first 15 TRM 2000s are therefore presented to the SIMMT, in accordance with the commitments.
It took 19 months for the first TRM10000 CLD, 16 months for the first CBH, 15 months for the first GBC, and finally less than 9 months for the first TRM2000. These extremely short deadlines demonstrate Arquus’ expertise in supporting tactical and logistical vehicles, and the company’s commitment alongside the forces. They also illustrate the excellence of partnership and cohesion within an efficient industrial-state team.
To achieve this performance, Arquus teams had to mobilize all their know-how in diagnostics, maintenance and obsolescence management. The specific features of the programme required precise management and close synchronization between all business lines, from the design office to purchasing and logistics. In total, work on the TRM2000 involves the replacement of more than 400 part numbers, as well as more than 220 hours of work per vehicle on average.
200 TRM2000 must be renovated by the end of 2021 in order to re-equip the overseas forces. The first 30 vehicles, including the 15 produced in parallel by SMITer, should leave next March for New Caledonia and French Polynesia.
Several Arquus sites are currently engaged in industrial repair programmes. Saint-Nazaire is in charge of the renovation of Light Recognition and Support Vehicles (VLRA) and TRM2000. The Limoges Military Vehicles Production Center is responsible for a renovation programme for GBC180 and GBC (Sherpa) ADR, the 500th vehicle of which was recently delivered to the forces. The Fourchambault Maintenance Center in Operational Condition, finally, is in charge of RIP on the CBH 385 tanker of the Armed Forces Fuel Service (Service des Esences des Armées, SEA), of the TRM10000 CLD and APD. Marolles-en-Hurepoix, finally, repairs transfer cases for GBC180s.
These industrial repair programmes extend the estimated operational life of these vehicles, while allowing the handling of large volumes. They are fully in line with the ministerial desire to strengthen cooperation with private industry in support of Army vehicles.
Unofficial translation by EDR On-Line
Photos courtesy Arquus
