French Special Forces Masstech ARMURE T6

French Special Forces Technamm Masstech ARMURE T6 used as an armoured battlefield ambulance at SOFINS [© Bob Morrison]

The Masstech ARMURE (Armour) T6 produced by Technamm is an armoured 6×6 Toyota Land Cruiser 79 in service with French Special Forces, reports Bob Morrison.

First unveiled at SOFINS 2019 in 4×4 form as the Masstech ARMURE by Technamm, the ARMURE T6 is a B6 level protection 6×6 light armoured 70-series Toyota conversion now in service in quantity with the French Special Forces Command (Commandement des Forces Spéciales Terre or COM FST). The example seen here during the capability display on the final day of SOFINS 2025 at Camp de Souge was configured as an armoured ambulance, as was a pristine example displayed on the manufacturer’s stand inside the expo, but we were informed that other internal configurations are in service.

This Masstech ARMURE T6 was used to extract a notional casualty and transport him to an airstrip for medical evacuation [© Bob Morrison]

Measuring 6618mm long from front lashing eye to rear face of spare wheel (when carried on the rear door) by 1790mm wide over wheel arches, the the Masstech ARMURE T6 is 2570mm high to the top of the antennae mounts; though about 90mm taller if a weapons mount, without machine gun, is fitted to the roof hatch ring. Wheelbase is 3180mm plus 990mm, Track is 1565mm and Ground Clearance is 230mm. The Approach Angle is 27°, Departure Angle is 18° and Fording Depth is 600mm.

Note the seven circular firing ports below or beside the armoured vision blocks and the roof hatch with ring mount [© Bob Morrison]

On this vehicle the spare wheel has clearly been relocated on the rear hull side and a second has been added on the opposite side [© Bob Morrison]

Both rear axles are powered ~ off-the-shelf Toyota components are used [© Bob Morrison]

According to the manufacturer, powered by the 4164cc Toyota 1HZ*1H 6-cylinder turbocharged and intercooled diesel engine generating 200hp, this EN 1063 B6 protection level (including glazing) 6×6 has a kerb weight of 6700kg and potential payload of 800kg giving a Gross Vehicle Weight of 7500kg. Of four-door configuration with a roof hatch, the vehicle has three blast-suppressed forward-facing seats plus a fourth inward-facing jump seat just inside the rear door to allow one of the three-person crew to provide medical assistance when a stretcher patient is carried.

Driver’s position and rear compartment of the vehicle used in the casevac scenario [© Bob Morrison]

The pristine interior of the vehicle displayed by the manufacturer and the plastic covers on seats plus the neatly rolled camouflage net suggest this ARMURE B6 had not yet been issued to a unit [© Bob Morrison]

The ARMURE T6 is configured for three crew ~ this is the vehicle displayed by Technamm [© Bob Morrison]

Precise quantities in service are uncertain, but we believe at least 20 vehicles have been ordered by COM FST. The ARMURE T6 which participated in the SOFINS 2025 capability display, used to transport a notional casualty injured during a hostage rescue scenario to a medical evacuation aircraft, was confirmed by its SF crew as being an in-service vehicle and they said they were happy both with it and the additional capability it now gives them.

Original 4×4 Technamm Masstech ARMURE unveiled at SOFINS 2019 [© Bob Morrison]

Technamm Masstech ARMURE displayed at SOFINS 2023 [© Bob Morrison]

ARMURE T6, Featured, French Special Forces, Masstech, Technamm