June 21, 2024
Eurosatory 2024 is over, most of the boxes have been packed away, the vehicles have been sent home to be put into storage, the stands have been dismantled, the carpet has been rolled up, and the tired sales managers and their engineers have hung their MKU lanyards around their necks for the last time this year. But what did we learn from this show in the suburbs of the City of Light?
At Eurosatory 2024, there were more armored vehicles on display than two years ago, but a glance around the showgrounds suggested a return to refurbished older systems, with intermediate designs and vehicles on display seeking to fill a capability gap in the face of new threats perceived by major ground forces.
In the world of green flying things, there was a major reset earlier this year with the cancellation of the US Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program and a return to Black Hawks in the face of changing threats.
All this happened as the trend of the past two years continued—an increasingly broad range of anti-drone systems, more ground robots, and AI being layered on top of many products, including in the areas of security and law enforcement. In addition, threats to internal security and borders have been identified as a market opportunity, and customized equipment and combat gear tailored to first responders have also been highlighted.
The trend toward anti-drone systems since the start of the war in Ukraine shows no signs of slowing down. DroneShield is talking about massively increasing production in an attempt to sell as many units of its DroneSentry-X Mk2 as quickly as possible.
Milrem’s developments once again showcased the THeMIS with a new leap in capability by adding a Starlink terminal for satellite communications and significantly increasing the platform’s range as a cargo and casualty evacuation platform.
Leonardo’s new AW249 attack helicopter on display at Eurosatory 2024. (Photo: Giovanni Rasio)
For Milrem, the war in Ukraine, neighboring its home base in Estonia, has proven to be a sandbox that has allowed it to learn from users and improve the platform to better protect and support soldiers in combat. The platform remains one of the most combat-tested in its class, and Milrem is reaping the benefits of this experience.
As the largest defense and security exhibition in Europe, if not the world, it takes a lot for a company to truly lead the conversation at Eurosatory, but KNDS’ impressive booth and range of new offerings, including the Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0 and Leclerc Evolution, did just that. Yet its involvement in the development of the Main Ground Combat Systems (MGCS) program, or even the future of that program, seemed to go completely unnoticed and was not the subject of conversation here.
Instead, KNDS and Rheinmetall seem to be focusing on the rapidly intensifying competition to develop “intermediate” tanks, a general term for a vehicle that is not quite an MGCS, but an upgrade of the current Leopard 2A8 and Leclerc XLR models.
The aforementioned new offerings from KNDS seek to compete with Rheinmetall’s Eurosatory 2022 offering, the KF-51 Panther, a platform joined by two other Panther variants this year, rather than offering the clean break platform that the MGCS is supposed to be.
Indeed, the “EMBT-ADT 140” shown by KNDS is presented less as a true MBT concept demonstrator than as a beautiful backdrop for the 140 mm Ascalon gun, hence its name “Ascalon Demonstrator Turret.”
The latest CV90 Mk IV from BAE Systems Hagglunds features a new turret with a larger internal volume that can be armed with various medium-caliber guns. (Photo: BAE Systems Hagglunds)
BAE Systems Hagglunds has unveiled its latest version of the increasingly popular CV90, featuring a new turret with a larger internal volume, which was first mounted on the Royal Netherlands Army’s (RNLA) CV9035NL Mid-Life Upgrade.
Features of the new turret include a NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture (NGVA) and a central control panel accessible to the commander or gunner, a 7.62 mm machine gun mounted externally on the right side of the turret to increase space, eliminate smoke inside the turret, and allow for the loading of more ready-to-use cartridges.
On the same side, behind the coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun, is a dual retractable launcher for the Spike-LR anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW).
Once again, this platform has seen action in Ukraine thanks to new builds and donations from existing fleets, and once again, this helps to light the way forward for future development.
All this blatant display of equipment was in stark contrast to the Arquus stand, where its IFV MAV’Rx “Batman truck” topped with a 30mm cannon was hidden behind walls. Hidden in the largest storage closet at the show and with stand security more intimidating than the back row of the New Zealand All Blacks, it was harder to get an audience than King Charles III.
The MAV’Rx is a beast like few, if any, others in its class and size. It is powered by a front-mounted Volvo diesel engine with 400 hp, coupled with a fully automatic ZF transmission. It is equipped with a central tire inflation system to improve mobility across the country.
The hidden prototype was equipped with the John Cockerill Defence weapon station, which includes a stabilized 25 mm cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun. The vehicle is also equipped with the Pillar fire detection system, commonly used in French army armored vehicles.
At the same time, as part of EU funding to renew European technical capabilities in the manufacture of all-terrain vehicles, Patria is leading a consortium of nine countries and has designed and built two test benches for a new all-terrain vehicle concept called FAMOUS (Future Highly Mobile Augmented Armored Systems).
Few technical details have been released about FAMOUS, but it is said to have a total weight of around 15 tons, including 3.5 tons of payload. It can cross a 2-meter ditch and climb a 60% slope. Depending on its payload, it is also fully amphibious, being propelled through the water by its tracks at a maximum speed of 4 km/h.
The Patria FAMOUS test bed is equipped with wide rubber tracks for increased off-road mobility and lower ground pressure to enable it to operate on difficult terrain. (Photo: Christopher F Foss)
Land robots, both old and new and of various classes, flourished in the indoor and outdoor stands, one of the most interesting being Arquus’ large wheeled robot Drailer and one of the most notable revelations being L3Harris’ plan to equip its T7 and T4 robots with a double arm.
This dual arm would have one arm for lifting heavy loads and another for more dexterous tasks such as cutting cables or opening small bags or boxes, which would be an alternative to using kinetic devices in such situations.
Other modifications have been made to the vehicles: Texelis talked about its new Celeris 6×6 and Babcock about a medium-wheelbase general logistics vehicle inspired by the Land Cruiser 70.
What does all this mean? Is this a major reset that will see new versions of decades-old systems come out of retirement, or is it a Hollywood-style reboot of an old franchise, but obviously without the caveat that the industry has no new ideas?
The next few years will bring some clarity, and we may have a better idea at the next Eurosatory in 2026.