KNDS said CAPINT and LORAS are intended to shape the future of European land defence. The company described them as major achievements in combining French and German assets and competencies into joint products.
“These systems embody the unique value proposition of KNDS designing and orchestrating system-of-systems capabilities, connecting platforms, sensors, effectors and digital solutions to enhance battlefield effectiveness,” said Jean-Paul Alary, CEO of KNDS. “We are bringing together French and German capabilities within single, fully integrated solutions designed, developed and supported by one company. It demonstrates our ability to transform European industrial cooperation into concrete capabilities for our customers.”
CAPINT, which stands for CAPacité INTermédiaire, is KNDS’ proposal for France’s next main battle tank capability. KNDS said the project is intended to strengthen French Army capabilities in the main battle tank domain and pave the way towards the Main Ground Combat System.
The company said CAPINT will address new battlefield requirements in firepower, counter-UAV capability, protection, open digital architecture and connectivity with robotised wingmen. KNDS described the system as more than a single tank, with a central platform and robotic wings linked by an open digital core intended to support scalability and adaptability.
The central platform in KNDS’ proposal uses an enhanced KNDS Deutschland chassis derived from the Leopard 2 A8. It is powered by a 1,500-horsepower diesel engine and is intended to provide a strong power-to-weight ratio for superior mobility.
The platform also uses a KNDS France ASCALON turret. The turret is unmanned, non-intrusive and fitted with a state-of-the-art 120 mm smoothbore autoloaded ASCALON gun.
KNDS said it is developing CAPINT with the aim of delivering the first units in the 2030s. The company said the design builds on its experience with the Leclerc and Leopard main battle tanks.
ASCALON is presented as a family of weapons designed for the evolving demands of high-intensity warfare. KNDS said the architecture can move from the current NATO-standard 120 mm norm to improved performance and even larger calibres.
The company said the system is based on mature technical solutions and has already fired about 300 rounds. In January 2026, KNDS said it achieved a world first with a successful dynamic firing campaign in Portugal from a main battle tank demonstrator fitted with a remote-control turret.
KNDS said ASCALON combines battlefield performance with optimised life-cycle and acquisition costs. The company also said the system is fully compatible with NATO-standard 120 mm ammunition, allowing customers to use existing stockpiles while maintaining long-term interoperability.
LORAS, or Long Range Artillery System, extends KNDS’ position as a European provider of sovereign land indirect fires. KNDS said the family concept is intended to provide deep-strike capability for modern high-intensity warfare.
The company said the system reflects operational lessons from recent conflicts and the changing requirements of European NATO allies. It also said target detection and localisation technologies now allow armed forces to identify more targets at greater distances and with higher accuracy.
KNDS said artillery systems currently in service do not exceed a range of 40 kilometres with standard high-explosive munitions. With the LORAS 155 mm/58 calibre system, future artillery will be able to fire beyond 60 kilometres and reach up to 100 kilometres with special munitions.
The company said very long-range artillery offers a favourable cost-effectiveness ratio and superior invulnerability. It said artillery shells cost much less than comparable missiles and that no fielded defence system can currently intercept them effectively.
KNDS said LORAS forms part of a wider ecosystem that includes loitering munitions, light 105 mm artillery, heavy 155 mm/52 calibre artillery and rockets mastered by the company. It described the system as a major operational asset within that broader indirect fire portfolio.
The 155 mm/58 calibre gun is designed to fit existing platforms. KNDS said it can be mounted on wheeled or tracked vehicles, including platforms already in service from KNDS or other industrial partners.
The gun is also intended to equip new platforms. At Eurosatory 2026, LORAS is being shown on the German-designed and German-built Boxer Tracked armoured vehicle.
KNDS said the system will be compatible with several types of ammunition. These include a new 58-calibre high-explosive munition under development by KNDS France and existing JBMOU-compatible 52-calibre shells used by CAESAR and most other NATO countries.
