Renault and John Cockerill unveil Forefront Concept, a remote-controlled electric military vehicle

A remotely controlled platform for risky missions

Renault and the Belgian defence group John Cockerill presented the Forefront Concept on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, an unmanned electric ground vehicle built for dangerous or hard-to-reach environments. The vehicle is designed to be controlled remotely first, with autonomous operation in complex terrain planned for a later phase. The partners say the goal is to reduce the exposure of people to danger while keeping the capacity to carry equipment and perform different types of missions.

Specifications and performance

The Forefront Concept uses two electric motors, with four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering to help it manoeuvre in tight spaces and move off-road. Its planned payload reaches one tonne. The target range is about 400 km, which can be extended with a range extender. The partners stress that the 400 km figure is a development target and not a homologated value. The electric drive also makes the vehicle quieter, a feature the partners consider relevant for reconnaissance and surveillance.

Division of work

Renault is responsible for designing the mobile platform, drawing on its experience in electrification, vehicle development and large-scale industrial production. John Cockerill handled the teleoperation design and the autonomy functions for complex environments. Renault says it is prioritising proven automotive components, which should reduce development costs and ease a later move into production. Jean-Luc Maurange, chief executive of John Cockerill, described the project this way:

“Forefront Concept illustrates the emergence of a new generation of ground robotic systems, born from the convergence of two major industrial know-how.”

Military and civil uses

The military applications listed include logistics support, reconnaissance, surveillance, counter-drone operations, fire support and evacuation. Civil uses named by the partners include civil protection, the transport of materials and interventions in dangerous or hard-to-access places. Maurange added:

“This platform combines mobility, autonomy and tactical communications to increase operational capabilities while reducing the exposure of soldiers.”

Next steps

The prototype was developed with the contribution of the French armed forces. It is set to take part in several exercises and tests in the coming weeks, and the feedback from military users will be used to refine the concept. The Forefront Concept adds a ground platform to Renault's defence work, which already includes two aerial drone projects: Chorus, developed with the French SME Turgis Gaillard, and Toutatis, developed with Thales.