The demonstration suggests that the unmanned turret is at least partly functional and not merely a mock-up. Short images from the video also gave a limited view inside the armoured capsule for the three-person crew.
The crew compartment appeared relatively spacious despite being filled with screens and equipment. The driver was shown controlling the vehicle with a steering wheel rather than a gaming-style controller.
The vehicle used in the demonstration is understood to be armed with the 140 mm ASCALON 140 gun rather than the smaller ASCALON 120. The input notes that these are two different configurations of the ASCALON gun family.
Vous avez découvert le char de combat #CAPINT à #Eurosatory2026, la première partie de la réponse de KNDS aux besoins de capacité intermédiaire de l’Armée française !
Découvrez maintenant ses performances de tir en mouvement !#WeAreKNDS pic.twitter.com/IwlLd8SGBM
— KNDS France (@KNDS_France) June 29, 2026
The video forms part of a previously announced campaign promoting progress on the ASCALON 140 gun programme. The gun has probably fired about 300 rounds during tests, after 250 shots had been reached by April 2025 and another 100 were planned before completion of the 140 mm development programme.
CAPINT, short for capacité intermédiaire, was presented by KNDS at Eurosatory 2026. It is a new main battle tank proposal intended to start discussion on a relatively quickly available vehicle offering a clear improvement over current Leclerc and Leopard 2 tanks.
The design is essentially a development of the ADT140 demonstrator shown at Eurosatory 2024. In practical terms, it combines a heavily modified Leopard 2 chassis with a new turret known as the ASCALON Turret.
In the configuration shown in Paris, the vehicle carried the 120 mm version of the ASCALON gun with 20 rounds of ammunition. The unmanned turret also included a coaxial 12.7 mm heavy machine gun with 300 rounds.
The short interval between the Paris exhibition and the release of the test footage may support KNDS claims that changing the ASCALON calibre is relatively quick and easy. This assumes that the test video was recorded after Eurosatory.
The turret also carries elements of a modern fire-control system. It is additionally fitted with the KNDS ARX30 remotely controlled weapon station in a C-UAV configuration for engaging drones and lightly armoured vehicles.
The Leopard 2 chassis has been deeply modified for the CAPINT design. Three crew members sit inside an armoured capsule in the hull, while the sides and front are further protected by heavy armour modules.
Passive protection is supplemented by active protection systems. Elements of the all-round observation system are integrated into the armour modules, while a container for observation drones is located at the rear of the hull.
Mobility is intended to be slightly higher than that of current Leopard 2 variants. A powerpack with an engine output of 1,103 kW, or 1,500 hp, is expected to provide a top speed of up to 65 km/h and a range exceeding 450 km on paved roads.
CAPINT therefore presents KNDS France’s proposal for an interim main battle tank combining an existing chassis base with a new unmanned turret, enhanced protection and a scalable large-calibre gun. The demonstration indicates that work on both the vehicle and the ASCALON 140 armament is moving beyond static exhibition towards practical testing.
