Two European defense firms unveil main battle tank concepts at Eurosatory 2026
KNDS unveiled its CaPINT tank for the French Army and Leonardo-Rheinmetall presented an MBT mock-up for Italy at the defense exhibition north of Paris.
Breaking DefenseKNDS displayed its CaPINT main battle tank for the first time at Eurosatory on June 15, 2026. The vehicle appeared on static display north of Paris and was presented as a gap-filler to replace France’s Leclerc fleet, which is expected to retire around 2037. The CaPINT is built on an upgraded KNDS Deutschland-manufactured chassis derived from the Leopard 2 A8.
It carries an unmanned Ascalon turret fitted with a 120 mm gun. KNDS stated that the design includes increased firepower, counter-drone systems, open digital architecture, and connectivity with robotized wingers. KNDS aims to deliver the first CaPINT units in the 2030s, according to a company press release.
Leonardo-Rheinmetall Military Vehicles displayed a new mock-up of its main battle tank at the same exhibition. The joint venture, founded in 2024 between Leonardo and Rheinmetall, showed the vehicle equipped with a 30 mm remote-operated chain gun. Company representatives said the 30 mm chain gun provides 85-degree elevation to defeat high-angle drone strikes.
LRMV is in negotiations with the Italian Ministry of Defense for procurement of the MBT for the Italian Army and targets entry into service by the start of the next decade. Italian media have previously reported that Rome’s requirement stands at approximately 132 MBTs. Leonardo also displayed a quadcopter-like drone next to its Vulcano 120 mm ammunition at the show.
The concept envisions the drone guiding laser-guided Vulcano rounds to targets from farther away.
