Renault and Thales join forces in military vehicle development

French automotive giant Renault and Thales, an expert in security and defense systems, are continuing their work on a new vehicle prototype for land forces. The two institutions announced that they will unveil the prototype, which they have named “4 Troop,” to the public for the first time at the Eurosatory 2026 fair held in Paris. According to the statement, this new land vehicle is planned to be equipped with advanced technologies capable of managing both unmanned aerial and ground assets.

Renault, which has made significant contributions to the military industry in the past, had particularly drawn attention with its light tank production during World War I. The company's latest step in this field stands out as a strategic collaboration aimed at the integration of civilian and military technologies. At the beginning of this year, Renault also began producing multi-purpose unmanned aerial vehicles at its Le Mans facility in partnership with local defense industry company Turgis Gaillard.

Approximately 15 percent of Renault's shares are owned by the French state. The company's new CEO, François Provost, stated in remarks made at the beginning of the summer that the defense sector could create significant business potential for Renault, especially if Europe and France focus more on the military economy. However, Provost emphasized that there is no clear target regarding military revenues in their current business plan.

In an interview held in Brussels, Provost stated, “The defense sector is an important opportunity for us. As a result of our two years of research, we have been able to fully identify the contributions needed by the European and French armies.”

With this collaboration, Renault and Thales also aim to reach an ambitious position in developing innovative solutions within the European defense industry.