The Renault Group has teamed with defense and aerospace technologies specialist Thales Group to develop a new prototype military vehicle as part of Europe’s effort to upscale its military capabilities.
The vehicle, dubbed “4 Troop,” is a prototype version of the Véhicule Civil Multi-Rôles (VCMR) multi-role civil vehicle adapted to meet new operational requirements for land forces, the companies said in a June 15 joint statement.
The prototype, shown in light commercial vehicle and SUV versions at the defense industry Eurosatory 2026 exhibition, has 4-wheel drive and a hybrid powertrain to combine near-silent operation with long-range capabilities.
Naturally, details on a military vehicle are sparse but we are told it employs Thales’ secure onboard communications and connectivity technologies.
The 4 Troop is designed for all types of terrain for roles in decision support, reconnaissance, troop coordination, escort, logistical support, sensitive site and area surveillance, and deployment of unmanned aerial and ground vehicles.
Its vehicle-to-load function increases energy autonomy and can be used to power certain types of electrical equipment in the field. This solution is compatible for charging several vehicles in the Renault Group range, including SUVs and utility vehicles.
Both companies said the 4 Troop can provide land forces with a fully functional mobile command center that can be configured to match the exact requirements of land missions and provide effective mission capabilities thanks to Thales's Combat Digital Platform, which is fully compliant with the armed forces' operational and connectivity standards.
With the combination of Renault’s expertise in electronic vehicle architectures and Thales's advanced technologies, series production of 4 Troop will be possible for rapid deployment at optimum cost, the companies’ statement added.
“With the VCMR, which draws on the extensive range of Renault Group platforms, we are exploring a pragmatic, sovereign approach to operational mobility to quickly address new armed forces requirements and enhance the ability to anticipate developments and take action in the theatre of operations,” said Renault’s engineering vice president of vehicle projects and operations, Franck Naro.
“Building on tried-and-trusted civil platforms and our industrial production capacity, we are proposing an agile, resilient capability that can be mobilized immediately,” he added.
“4 Troop transforms tactical data into an in-depth, actionable understanding of the environment to anticipate developments, decide and act with greater agility, efficiency and security,” said Christophe Salomon, Thale Group EVP of Secure Communications and Information Systems.
