The appearance of a small lunar 4×4: what we know about the military land drone project developed by Renault

Renault has new projects. The French group indicated Monday that it was working on “a land drone project for military and civilian use”, partly confirming an article from L’Usine Nouvelle on a partnership between the manufacturer and John Cockerill, owner of the military vehicle supplier Arquus.

“Our R&D teams are testing and exploring various options, such as ground robots, which also have potential for civil applications. This is an exploratory study project,” Renault indicated without confirming the name of the partner company.

The size of a small car

The car manufacturer recalled having been contacted at the beginning of the year by the Ministry of the Armed Forces, interested in its rapid development and production capabilities. “Our R&D teams work on various projects in the defense sector, each time also looking for civil applications,” added Renault.

According to L’Usine Nouvelle, the land drone prototype that Renault is preparing with John Cockerill would be the size of a small car and should be presented at the Eurosatory show next June, which the manufacturer has not confirmed.

Designed for reconnaissance on the battlefield, it has the appearance, according to the specialist journal, of a small lunar 4×4 equipped with several suspended cameras. It would be produced on a technological platform using certain modules and components from the Renault group.

This is a new Renault defense project after that of an aerial drone carried out with the defense company Turgis Gaillard and which must be produced in its Le Mans factory, up to 600 units per month.

In the longer term, according to L’Usine Nouvelle, a second project could emerge between Renault and Arquus in light military vehicles, by militarizing models potentially derived from the Dacia range.