The world's first land-based "interceptor"
Created by the Belgian John Cockerill Group, this all-terrain military vehicle is based on new technologies considered revolutionary for land forces.
It looks like a vehicle that we are used to seeing in rallies like the Dakar Rally. However, the capabilities of the machine just presented at the major international military exhibition Eurosatory in Paris seem more like something out of a science fiction film.
The Cockerill i-X ("i" for interceptor and "X" for modular multi-weapons system) is equipped with a small turret that can be fully retracted, allowing it to reach speeds of 200 km/h (124 mph) on the road and 160 km/h (99 mph) on the track in the desert, despite weighing nearly four tons.
Powered by a thermal or hybrid thermal-electric motorisation, this machine is, importantly, equipped with adaptive camouflage, giving it the ability to change its infrared emissions. This technical advance guarantees its stealth, meaning that it can avoid being spotted by radars.
With cameras and sensors capable of automatically detecting and locating external threats, the Cockerill i-X can carry several types of weapons on board (medium-calibre cannons, missiles, rockets, etc.).
According to the designers from JCD (John Cockerill Defense), "this machine represents a break with traditional concepts and sets out a new paradigm for military land operations."