At Eurosatory 2026, John Cockerill Defense introduced the FENRIS, a new 6×6 wheeled combat vehicle designed to provide highly mobile direct fire support for modern land forces. Weighing 26 tonnes in combat configuration, the company describes FENRIS as the only vehicle in its weight class currently capable of carrying a high-pressure 105 mm NATO gun, combining the mobility of a medium-weight armoured platform with the firepower traditionally associated with significantly heavier combat vehicles.

FENRIS is the first combat vehicle developed by John Cockerill Defense since its acquisition of Arquus in 2024 and represents the integration of Arquus’ expertise in military vehicle design with John Cockerill Defense’s advanced weapon systems. According to the company, the programme was developed in response to the continuing requirement among armed forces for highly mobile direct-fire platforms capable of supporting reconnaissance formations and medium infantry units on increasingly complex battlefields.

The vehicle is built on a newly developed proprietary 6×6 chassis designed by Arquus and powered by a 500 hp engine delivering high torque while maintaining a low acoustic signature. Equipped with an active suspension system and a central tyre inflation system, FENRIS can adjust its ground clearance and vehicle attitude according to terrain conditions. The adjustable suspension also enables the vehicle to reduce its silhouette while occupying hull-down firing positions, improving survivability against enemy observation and fire. Its relatively low combat weight also allows rapid strategic deployment, including transport aboard the Airbus A400M Atlas during tactical airlift operations.

The platform is armed with the Cockerill 3105 two-person turret, equipped with the company’s high-pressure 105 mm NATO gun compatible with the full range of standard NATO ammunition. The lightweight turret, described by the manufacturer as the lightest 105 mm turret currently available, incorporates a fully stabilised weapon system with wide elevation and depression angles, allowing the engagement of targets positioned on elevated terrain, inside urban environments, or from reverse-slope and hull-down positions. The fire control system integrates artificial intelligence to assist target acquisition and engagement while maintaining human control over weapons employment.

In addition to its main armament, FENRIS incorporates an integrated counter-unmanned aerial system capability through a new version of the Hornet-S commander’s sight. In its C-UAS configuration, the system combines radar sensors with a remotely operated 7.62 mm machine gun, enabling the vehicle to detect and engage small drones while also serving as the commander’s observation system and close-in defensive weapon. Integrating these functions into a single installation reduces the turret’s overall signature and preserves valuable roof space for future mission equipment.

John Cockerill Defense positions FENRIS not as a replacement for the modern main battle tank but as a complementary capability providing reconnaissance formations with substantial direct firepower while offering infantry brigades an organic means of engaging armoured vehicles, fortified positions, buildings and entrenched forces without relying exclusively on missiles, loitering munitions, artillery or close air support. The combination of mobility, strategic deployability and heavy direct-fire capability is expected to make the vehicle particularly attractive to armed forces operating in regions where infrastructure or terrain limits the use of heavier tracked combat vehicles.

The unveiling of FENRIS also demonstrates the strategic integration of Arquus within John Cockerill Defense following its acquisition, highlighting the company’s ambition to offer complete land combat solutions that combine advanced weapon systems with indigenous vehicle platforms to address the evolving operational requirements of armed forces worldwide.