Renault Forefront Concept: the French carmaker’s remotely operated ground vehicle for the army

Renault Group and the Belgian defence group John Cockerill unveiled the Forefront Concept, a remotely operated electric ground vehicle, on 3 November 2026. The unmanned platform is meant for military missions as well as civilian tasks in dangerous or hard-to-reach places.

Forefront is a four-wheel-drive vehicle with four-wheel steering and two electric motors. It is described as silent and is designed for high mobility and off-road performance. The target range is about 400 km (249 miles), which can be extended with a range extender, and the target payload is up to one tonne (2,205 lb). The battery capacity, top speed and weight have not been published.

The work is split between the two partners. Renault Group designed the mobile platform, using a modular architecture that reuses proven automotive components, and contributed its more than 15 years of experience with electric powertrains and batteries. John Cockerill developed the remote-operation and autonomy functions and handled militarisation and the integration of mission systems.

The vehicle is currently remotely operated. The partners say the platform should ultimately be able to drive fully autonomously, while keeping the system safe and secure. A remotely operated weapon station is shown on some of the concept images, but no weapon has been specified; John Cockerill is named as responsible for the military integration.

Military missions listed for Forefront are logistics support, reconnaissance and surveillance (ISR), anti-drone operations, fire support and casualty evacuation. Civilian uses include civil protection, logistics and work in constrained or hazardous environments. The concept images also show the vehicle carried under a helicopter and used on a construction site.

Forefront was developed with input from the French armed forces, and it is due to take part in several exercises and trials in the weeks after the unveiling to refine the concept. According to Renault Group CEO François Provost, the project shows what Renault’s “industrial and technological expertise” can contribute to unmanned ground vehicles, a sector with civilian and military applications expected in the years to come.

Jean-Luc Maurange, CEO of John Cockerill, described Forefront as a new generation of ground robotic systems, combining mobility, autonomy and tactical communications to reduce soldiers’ exposure to danger. John Cockerill owns the French armoured vehicle maker Arquus.

Reportedly, about 70 percent of the vehicle’s components come from civilian automotive production, it can carry its load on slopes of up to 60 percent, and it measures about 3.5 m (11.5 ft) in length and just over 1.8 m (5.9 ft) in width. These figures have not been confirmed in the official release.