The invention of this soldier seduced the French and American special forces

A soldier at Air Base 105 in Evreux (Eure), Killian Pezet defines himself as a discreet person. However, for the past few days, he has found himself in the spotlight thanks to his award-winning invention at a prestigious exhibition dedicated to military innovation.

Originally from Cherbourg, the 24-year-old arrived at BA105 five and a half years ago. A professional certificate in his pocket, he followed in his father’s footsteps and became gunsmith. A “fairly rare” position (there are four or five per base) which consists of maintaining, repairing and modifying weapons, from pistols to assault rifles used on missions.

A mobile armory

It was during an external operation (Opex) in the Sahel that the first seeds of his innovation germinated. As a gunsmith, he is installed on a large base, when many soldiers are located in outposts two hours flight.

When they need to repair their weapons, the latter are forced to wait for the end of their mission and must move with all their equipment to the base. A logistical mess.

I wondered why the armory wouldn’t get closer to our men.

Back in France after five months of mission, he proposes his idea: “To condense all the technical and technological means of an armory in a box of one cubic meter. In short, a mobile armory. The box must be transportable by plane and dropped on the grounds of conflict if necessary.

Once deployed, it becomes a table 2 m wide and 70 cm long composed of drawers containing the tools necessary for the repair and cleaning of weapons, parts, ingredients (oils, glues, etc.), tablets (mainly used to indicate the procedure to follow for each weapon), lighting, microscope and endoscope… “Each centimeter is used to stall and take away as many things as possible”, sums up the inventor.

A model with waste

At first, his colleagues think of a joke. Not enough to disarm the young corporal. “It was necessary to demonstrate that I strongly believed in it. At worst, I would have been told it sucked. At best it worked”, he explains, simply. He takes his evenings to train in three-dimensional modeling in order to present his project to the authorities.

A sense of resourcefulness which is a hit, since in the fall of 2021, his presentation arouses the interest of the authorities. Killian Pezet makes a wooden model at little cost, in particular by using waste and calling on the carpenters of the BA105, in order to show his concept.

For the prototype, he obtains funding from the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA), which holds the purse strings. Having the possibility of counting on an imposing budget, the corporal is limited to €15,000. “I didn’t need more,” he says.

A controlled cost thanks to the research and manufacturing capacities within the French army itself. It involves the industrial workshop at the Bordeaux base, unique in France, “which can build anything”. Above all, this phase allows his invention to pass into the hands of engineers who can go into detail.

“To be 100% independent”

If the Ebroïcien inventor’s box is credible, it is above all because it is the result of “experience in the field and that it was not ordered in an office”. Two solar panels unfoldable can be used to recharge tablets and lights if no socket is available. “The idea is to be 100% autonomous,” supports Killian Pezet.

The folding camping table side is completely assumed by the young man, who wanted to make everything easy to use.

It takes less than sixty seconds to deploy it. The goal is that we do not ask questions and that we do not break it.

The fully magnetic work surface has also been designed to meet the requirements of the field. “We must prevent the small screws from falling and rolling in the sand”, specifies the one who defines himself as a “clumsy handyman”. Only real “black point” of the package: its weight. He weighs a hundred poundsbut the corporal found the alternative by adding a trolley system to it so that only one man could pull it, regardless of the terrain.

“Better than the Lépine competition”

At the end of March, Killian Pezet took part in the SOFINS exhibition (special operations forces specials network seminar) in Bordeaux. A very closed event which is held every two years and for which you have to show your credentials.

It brings together special forces from around the world and the manufacturers who manufacture James Bond gadgets.

Among the fifty or so innovators present, he won the prize in the GCOS (general commanding special operations) category. “It’s better than the Lépine competition,” he assures us. A prestige, but above all “a gigantic credibility” for the invention and the inventor.

It was on this occasion that Killian Pezet chose the name ofArtac (Tactical Armory). A more punchy title than Projectable Weapons Maintenance Fund (CPEA), and above all easier to say. “I stuttered a lot, I would have missed the pronunciation,” confides the Ebroïcien inventor. However, during the four days of the show, his handicap did not bother him: “I knew exactly what I was talking about, that helped. »

Interested companies

The French army has filed the patent for its use and Killian Pezet can do with it what he wants for the civilian. He has already been approached by companies who run pipelines in the Middle East who would like to use the caisson.

Because the structure can be adapted to different customers according to their needs: weapons specific to different bodies (conventional army, special forces, GIGN, Raid, etc.), drone repair, helicopter repair, trucks, etc.

The invention also greatly pleased the American special forces.

But before thinking about selling it, Killian Pezet is working on its final version, “which must be effective in the field”. For that, no secret: experience. “We try to manhandle him,” laughs the inventor. The box is entrusted to other people “a little more brutal” to test its solidity. Next step: an air drop.

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