DIMDEX 2026 – KNDS France showcases VBCI MKII, Loitering Munitions and a bespoke counter‑drone shield for Qatari Forces
Infantry Fighting Vehicle VBCI MKII, loitering munitions and counter‑drone warfare: at DIMDEX 2026 KNDS France exhibited a coherent set of land combat solutions, tailored to Qatar’s modernisation needs. At the heart of this offer are the VBCI MKII, the new Mataris family of loitering munitions and the RAPIDFire Land system, designed to guarantee operational superiority in an era marked by the widespread use of drones and long‑range strikes
VBCI MKII: 8×8 spearhead
KNDS France placed the VBCI MKII at the centre of its land proposal, as a latest‑generation 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle directly derived from the French Army’s combat experience in Mali, the Levant, Afghanistan, Central Africa and Eastern Europe. Adapted to Qatari desert environments, the VBCI has already demonstrated high mobility and strong availability in sustained operations, with protection solutions dimensioned for high‑intensity warfare.
From a technical standpoint, the VBCI MKII offers a highly survivable 8×8 chassis, an optimised internal volume to accommodate a full infantry squad and a modular protection level combining composite armour, add‑on kits and solutions against mine and IED threats. The platform is designed for high tactical and strategic mobility, with mass and dimensions compatible with the air and sea‑lift assets frequently used by the Qatari forces.
The VBCI MKII is conceived as an open weapon system, able to integrate different turrets according to user requirements, including 30 mm guns compatible with the existing logistics of the Qatari Armed Forces. This architecture enables coverage of the full spectrum, from mechanised infantry combat to precision fire against armoured targets and slow aerial threats.
In support, KNDS Ammo offers the full range of 30×173 mm ammunition, including sub‑calibre kinetic penetrator rounds delivering a higher level of lethality than current market standards. This continuity builds on more than forty years of cooperation in 30 mm ammunition with Qatar, dating back to the first Mirage 2000 programmes, and paves the way for local industrial ramp‑up around ammunition sovereignty.
Mataris loitering munitions
In response to the return of high‑intensity conflict, KNDS France is also showcasing its Mataris family of loitering munitions, designed to cover the full spectrum of beyond‑line‑of‑sight strike missions. Unveiled at IDEX 2025 and exhibited at the Paris Air Show, the Mataris range extends from light tactical tube‑launched loitering munitions to systems with ranges of up to 100 km, enabling commanders to strike high‑value point targets in depth.
Mataris systems are based on an open digital architecture combining electro‑optical sensors, secure data links and advanced decision‑support algorithms for target designation. Integrated within a “system‑of‑systems” logic, these loitering munitions can be coordinated with VBCI MKII fires and other KNDS vectors, providing the Qatari forces with a responsive and cost‑effective deep‑strike capability.
RAPIDFire Land: anti‑drone shield
In a context marked by the massive use of drones and loitering munitions, KNDS France is presenting RAPIDFire Land in Doha, the first remotely operated 40 mm turret with artificial intelligence algorithms embedded at the core of its fire‑control system. Directly derived from the very‑short‑range air‑defence system already selected by the French Navy, RAPIDFire Land, which was unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2025, transfers these capabilities onto an 8×8 land carrier or into a 20‑foot palletised module, enhancing mobility and the protection of high‑value assets on the ground.
The system employs the 40 mm CTA gun common to the EBRC Jaguar and fires the complete 40 mm cased‑telescoped ammunition family, including the A3B (Anti‑Aerial AirBurst) round dedicated to close‑in air defence, which is in advanced development stage. Building on the proven airburst technology of the GPR‑AB‑T round, the A3B delivers a forward‑focussed tungsten sub‑projectile cloud, providing increased effectiveness against drones, loitering munitions and slow aircraft.
The 40 mm cased‑telescoped ammunition offers a threefold advantage for Qatar’s anti‑drone defence. Firstly, its effective range is stated to be more than twice that of conventional 30×173 mm ammunition, extending the protection bubble to around 4 km. Secondly, each round is approximately 50% shorter than traditional 40 mm ammunition, improving system compactness and onboard stowage capacity. RAPIDFire Land thus carries 140 ready‑to‑fire rounds, enabling it to cope with saturation scenarios and swarm attacks without immediate resupply, a decisive factor for the defence of Qatar’s critical sites.
A solution tailored to Qatar
By combining the VBCI MKII, Mataris loitering munitions and RAPIDFire Land, KNDS France offers the Qatari forces a seamless capability continuum, from armoured infantry projection to deep strike and close‑in counter‑drone defence. This approach is embedded in a long‑term partnership logic, including the development of local industrial capabilities in final assembly, in‑service support and ammunition production, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
Backed by a customer base of 24 European land forces and 19 international users, KNDS is positioning itself at DIMDEX 2026 as a key player in NATO standardisation and interoperability, offering Qatar privileged access to a rapidly evolving European land‑systems ecosystem. By placing operational superiority at the core of its display in Doha, the group is consolidating its status as a strategic partner for the long‑term modernisation of Qatar’s land forces.
Photos by J. Roukoz, file photos by P. Valpolini
