Futuristic tanks dominate Eurosatory 2024 in Paris

The Eurosatory 2024 defence industry exhibition took place in Paris last week. This year's show was dominated by tanks. Several futuristic designs were clearly based on experiences from the combat in Ukraine.

At the fair, the Franco-German consortium KNDS showcased three new tanks: the Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0, Leclerc Evolution, and EMBT ADT 140. The first is a proposal for a deep modernization of the 45-year-old Leopard 2, aimed at the Bundeswehr under the Leopard 2AX program. The tank received an unmanned turret with a Rheinmetall L/55A1 120 mm cannon (with a spectacularly high elevation angle; it can be replaced with another gun), an NG M230LF 30 mm cannon in a remotely controlled weapon station (for fighting drones), and a single anti-tank missile launcher.

Interestingly, the machine gun was omitted. The turret is not exceptionally well-armoured but is equipped with the Rafael Trophy active protection system. The hull houses the entire crew, typically three members, but a fourth can be added to operate drones. The hull is armoured. The engine remains unchanged but can be replaced by a hybrid system.

The second tank from KNDS was the Leclerc Evolution, similar to the Leopard 2A-RC 3.0 but with a manned low-profile turret derived from the EMBT tank turret. The hull underwent very similar changes to the Leopard's, but it doesn't house the entire crew. The turret seems slightly better armoured but is also equipped with an active protection system—Prometheus, with significantly higher performance.

The most interesting feature is the armament, which consists of an ASCALON dual-calibre gun (here in a 120 mm version) coupled with a 7.62 mm machine gun, two remotely controlled weapon stations (one with a 30 mm cannon for fighting drones, the other with a 7.62 mm machine gun serving as the commander's sight), and a triple loitering ammunition launcher. This futuristic-looking tank is offered to France as a potential upgrade to the Leclerclerc.

The third vehicle is the EMBT ADT 140. It derives somewhat from the above two but is more futuristic: it proposes a deep modernization of the Leopard 2, an intermediate between the tank's upgrade and the future revolutionary European MGCS tank. The hull is essentially a slightly modified Leopard 2, and the turret is a modified EMBT turret – this time unmanned and noticeably larger.

The armament is interesting: an ASCALON gun (this time in a 140 mm version shooting telescopic ammunition) coupled with a 20 mm cannon and a remotely controlled weapon station with a 30 mm cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun. The tank may be available in an optionally manned version and - if developed - will serve to test solutions planned for the MGCS. Armour supports Prometeus. The crew will consist of three soldiers. The intended engine will be a hybrid.

Rheinmetall presented two Panthers competing with KNDS while also collaborating. The older KF51 is not much different from the configuration known from the previous Eurosatory, with mainly software updates. In a sense, the only novelty was the use of the unmodified Leopard 2A4 chassis to emphasize that the innovative, though not very beautiful, turret can be used for relatively easy modernization of the machine.

The chassis was not wasted - it went under a new, unmanned turret version. This configured tank was designated KF51-U. It features a Rheinmetall L51 120 mm cannon, a 12.7 mm machine gun coupled with it, and a remotely controlled weapon station on the turret roof (with a triple-barreled 7.62 mm machine gun).

The turret's armour protection was enhanced using three active protection systems: Elbit Iron Fist hard-kill, Hensoldt MUSS, and Rheinmetall ROSY soft-kill. Interestingly, the ammunition supply in the turret is the largest of the mentioned tanks: it holds 25 rounds, compared to 18-22 in the other cases. Depending on the configuration, the crew is to consist of three or four members and would be extensively supported by artificial intelligence. The intended engine will be a hybrid.

Additionally, the Korean upgraded K2 had its Paris premiere. It may not have looked as impressive as its European futuristic competitors since it differed from the standard K2 known from the Korean and Polish armies only by the use of the Trophy active protection system, a drone jamming kit, rather modest additional armour, and a remotely controlled weapon station instead of a manually operated anti-aircraft machine gun.

However, the vehicle has an advantage. It is almost ready for production, and a similar configuration is expected in the K2PL, whereas the European futuristic vehicles are, at best, technology demonstrators, if not mock-ups.

Despite significant differences, certain trends regarding the near future of armoured warfare can easily be identified. Common points for the mentioned futuristic demonstrators include:

• optional use of a fourth crew member – drone operator (or other systems) in place of the removed second-line ammunition storage;
• isolation of ammunition from the crew and placement of the entire (significantly reduced) cannon ammunition supply in a mechanized magazine in the turret bustle;
• use of an active vehicle protection system;
• enhanced drone protection;
• reduced passive turret protection;
• mass reduction compared to the latest Western designs (usually below 60 tonnes);
• extensive sensor arrays.

It is also noteworthy that the relatively frequent proposal of using a light 30 mm cannon as a supplement to the tank gun, often in the 130-140 mm calibre – since there are few cannon rounds, it is a pity to waste them on lighter targets. All tanks are also expected to offer the ability to engage targets at longer ranges than before, beyond the line of sight. The use of hybrid propulsion is taken as a given. It is unknown whether all these features will be shared with future tanks, but some solutions will certainly make it into them.

It is worth noting that such a selection of solutions did not come out of nowhere. The widespread drone protection (reinforced roof armour, electronic warfare systems, hard-kill systems, and weapon stations capable of combating them) is the result of experiences from battles in Syria and Ukraine. Although the actual effectiveness of FPV drones is significantly less than triumphant videos online suggest, they and the submunitions from cluster munitions are a noticeable problem.

The commonly proposed full isolation of ammunition from the crew seems to stem from demographic and cultural changes, focusing on better protection of soldiers' lives. The frequent mention of artificial intelligence is a response to the increasing complexity of the battlefield – the crew, perhaps smaller than today, will have more means of destruction and access to more data, so they will need digital support to avoid the detrimental effects of over-stimulation and fatigue. Hybrid engines not only align with the trend towards eco-friendliness but will also help reduce fuel consumption, thus decreasing the size of the logistical "tail."

Besides tanks, there was also room for unmanned vehicles. These were incredibly diverse, from tiny ones through medium-category vehicles to heavy vehicles (Milrem Type-X). As unmanned companions for tank crews, they are another certainty, like the serial character Sharik performing the most challenging tasks. It will be a while before they become widespread. Nevertheless, it can be taken for granted that the future tank will not just be a tank but a whole system composed of many manned and unmanned vehicles.