The CAPINT Main Battle Tank is seen on display at Eurosatory north of Paris on June 15, 2026. (Photo by Guillaume Baptiste / AFP via Getty Images)
PARIS — European manufacturers have unveiled the latest iterations of two main battle tanks at Eurosatory, with the Franco-German group KNDS pitching a design for the French Army and Leonardo-Rheinmetall offering one for the Italian Army, both eyeing entry into service by 2030.
KNDS showcased its new CaPINT Maine Battle Tank for the first time on Monday, advertised as a gap-filler to replace France’s aging Leclerc fleet, which is expected to be retired around 2037.
The French national project was described by the manufacturers as designed to bolster French Army capabilities, with the vehicle to include increased firepower, counter-drone systems, an open digital architecture, and “connectivity with robotized wingers,” according to KNDS promotional materials, apparently a reference to unmanned ground or aerial systems.
The proposal is based on an upgraded KNDS Deutschland-manufactured chassis derived from the Leopard 2 A8 and features an unmanned Ascalon turret equipped with a 120 mm gun, like the Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0 MBT the company revealed at the show in 2024. The Franco-German defense group aims to deliver the first units of CaPINT the 2030s, according to a press release.
