France's S2M and KNDS Unveil REFURBOT: Cold War AMX-30 Tank Converted Into Unmanned Ground Combat Vehicle at Eurosatory 2026
French defense firms S2M Equipment and KNDS France have jointly unveiled the REFURBOT unmanned ground vehicle at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris. Built on a surplus Cold War-era AMX-30 main battle tank chassis, the REFURBOT replaces the original manned turret and 105mm gun with an ARX-25 remote weapon station armed with a 25mm autocannon, enabling crewless engagement of light armor, infantry, drones, and helicopters at ranges exceeding 2,500 meters.
Highlights
- S2M Equipment and KNDS France unveiled the REFURBOT unmanned ground combat vehicle at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, converting surplus AMX-30 main battle tank hulls into crewless combat platforms.
- A total of 3,571 AMX-30 tanks were produced between 1966 and 1994; their surplus hulls serve as the basis for the REFURBOT modernization program.
- The REFURBOT replaces the original 105mm manned turret with a KNDS ARX-25 remote weapon station armed with a 25mm autocannon carrying 280 rounds in a dual-feed system.
- The ARX-25 sighting system enables precision engagement of light armor, infantry, drones, and helicopters at ranges exceeding 2,500 meters with no crew onboard.
- The REFURBOT retains the AMX-30's 36-tonne hull and achieves a top speed of approximately 65 km/h, balancing protection and battlefield mobility.
France's S2M and KNDS Unveil REFURBOT: Cold War AMX-30 Tank Converted Into Unmanned Ground Combat Vehicle
French defense companies S2M Equipment and KNDS France have jointly introduced the REFURBOT unmanned ground combat vehicle at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, showcasing a new approach to modernizing legacy military hardware by repurposing surplus Cold War-era AMX-30 main battle tank hulls.
Giving Retired Tanks a New Purpose
The AMX-30 main battle tank was produced in France between 1966 and 1994, with a total of 3,571 units built. Although the type was retired from front-line French Army service long ago, a significant number of hulls remain available globally, making them attractive candidates for modernization programs.
The core concept behind the REFURBOT program is to convert these surplus AMX-30 hulls into remotely operated combat vehicles, extracting new battlefield value from existing assets without squandering available resources.
Crew Removed, Remote Weapon Station Installed
In the conversion, the original manned turret and 105mm F1 rifled gun have been completely removed and replaced with the ARX-25 remote weapon station, developed by KNDS France.
The station is equipped with a 25M811 25×137mm autocannon — the same weapon series used on the French Army's VBCI infantry fighting vehicle — providing significant logistical integration advantages.
The ARX-25 features a dual-feed ammunition system with a capacity of 280 rounds, allowing operators to switch between armor-piercing (AP/AP-I) and high-explosive fragmentation (HEF) rounds depending on the target type, greatly enhancing tactical flexibility.
Effective Engagement Beyond 2,500 Meters
According to the two companies, the ARX-25 weapon station is fitted with a stabilized day, night, and thermal imaging sighting system, enabling precision engagement of targets at ranges exceeding 2,500 meters.
The remote system is designed to engage a diverse range of threats — including light armored vehicles, infantry, drones, and hovering helicopters — with no crew required inside the vehicle, significantly reducing the risk of personnel casualties.
Original Chassis Performance Retained
The REFURBOT retains the original AMX-30's 36-tonne hull and maintains a top speed of approximately 65 km/h, delivering a combat platform that combines strong protection and high mobility while entirely removing personnel from the front-line vehicle.
Image credit: S2M Equipment and KNDS, sourced from social media video footage
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