en.Wedoany.com Reported - KNDS unveiled the CAPINT tank at the 2026 European Defense Exhibition, combining the Leopard 2A8 chassis with an unmanned turret, powered by a 1,500 hp diesel engine and a 120 mm ASCALON gun, and integrating drones and robotic vehicles, positioned as a transitional solution for European forces in the 2030s.

This Franco-German manufacturer brings together the companies behind the Leopard 2 and Leclerc tanks. In 2025, the group had over 11,000 employees, with revenues of €4.4 billion and a total order backlog of €33.1 billion.

The CAPINT is designed as a transitional vehicle. With France's planned Main Ground Combat System project progressing slowly, this solution aims to deliver vehicles in the 2030s rather than waiting until 2040. The Leopard 2A8 chassis provides proven mobility and protection, leveraging existing logistics chains. This choice reduces development risks while maintaining power comparable to current Western main battle tanks. The diesel engine delivers 1,500 hp (equivalent to 1,119 kW), with future options to add batteries and electric drive systems to increase energy storage and reduce infrared and acoustic signatures during operations.

The innovation lies in the unmanned turret, where crew members remain protected inside the hull and control the weapons remotely. With no personnel in the turret, the structure is smaller, lighter, and occupies less space. The planned armament is a 120 mm KNDS ASCALON smoothbore gun equipped with an autoloader, compatible with NATO standard ammunition stocks, and capable of accommodating larger calibers in the future without a complete redesign.

The tank can operate in coordination with drones and robotic vehicles, forming manned-unmanned teams, serving as an armored command platform in this configuration. KNDS also showcased an improved version of the Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0, featuring a remote-controlled turret, three crew members, compatibility with 120, 130, or 140 mm guns, and auxiliary weapons for countering drone swarms.

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