Technology: France's ARQUUS develops new autonomous anti-tank robotic system with Akeron missile.

According to information published by the French company ARQUUS on July 9, 2025, the company officially unveiled its latest unmanned combat system, the DRAILER MARSEUS, during the TechTerre exhibition held on July 9 and 10, 2025. This new configuration is an armed version of the DRAILER unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), integrating MBDA’s Akeron LP long-range missile system. Designed for beyond-line-of-sight engagements, the MARSEUS variant is engineered to deliver lethal firepower without placing infantry soldiers at risk, making it a major milestone in robotic ground warfare capabilities.
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The DRAILER MARSEUS armed unmanned ground vehicle, developed by France's ARQUUS, showcased with an Akeron LP anti-tank missile launcher during its public debut at the TechTerre 2025 defense innovation event in France. (Picture source: ARQUUS)

The DRAILER UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle), developed by French Company ARQUUS as part of its autonomous systems strategy, is a compact and highly mobile 4x4 electric-powered robotic vehicle built for battlefield versatility. It weighs approximately 1,200 kg and remains under 2 meters in width, allowing for easy transport by tactical vehicles or airlift. Featuring a payload capacity of 500 kg and a hybrid-electric propulsion system, it offers up to 8 hours of endurance depending on mission conditions. Its quiet electric operation ensures stealth during reconnaissance and combat support missions. The platform’s modular design allows it to be reconfigured for logistics, intelligence gathering, electronic warfare, or, as with the MARSEUS, precision fire support.

The DRAILER MARSEUS configuration transforms this utility UGV into a formidable combat platform. It features a weapon station equipped with a launcher module carrying up to eight Akeron LP missiles, supported by electro-optical sensors for target acquisition and engagement. The vehicle can be operated remotely or semi-autonomously, following troops on the ground or navigating via GPS through difficult terrain. Its robust suspension, low center of gravity, and off-road tires make it capable of traversing rubble, forest paths, and narrow urban environments—ideal for modern hybrid warfare scenarios.

The Akeron LP (Longue Portée), formerly known as the MHT (Missile Haut de Trame), is a next-generation long-range guided missile developed by MBDA. With a strike range exceeding 20 kilometers, the missile includes a multi-mode seeker that combines infrared imaging and semi-active laser targeting. A secure two-way datalink enables man-in-the-loop operation, allowing mid-course corrections or target reallocation in real time. Its tandem warhead is optimized to defeat modern armor and hardened defensive positions, making it a lethal solution against high-value targets. The integration of Akeron LP onto a compact robotic platform like the DRAILER MARSEUS significantly expands the tactical options for infantry units, enabling deep strikes without exposing soldiers to counterfire.

ARQUUS’s introduction of this system at TechTerre 2025 reflects a broader trend that has accelerated following lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. The conflict has demonstrated the critical role of unmanned systems in both reconnaissance and combat roles. Drones, loitering munitions, and UGVs have become central to frontline operations, often tipping the balance in urban combat and combined arms engagements. In response, major military forces across NATO, Asia, and the Middle East have intensified efforts to field robotic platforms capable of carrying weapons, sensors, and supplies. The growing demand for robotic combat systems is reshaping how future land warfare will be conducted, emphasizing reduced exposure, remote lethality, and manned-unmanned teaming.

ARQUUS is positioning the DRAILER MARSEUS as a cornerstone of this evolution. The system will be showcased in a dynamic live-fire demonstration on September 24, 2025, as part of the final phase of the European MARSEUS project, which aims to define operational standards for robotic combat systems across allied nations. This demonstration will not only validate the platform’s capabilities but also reinforce Arquus’s role as a key contributor to European defense innovation. The company highlights its commitment to delivering scalable, export-ready robotic solutions aligned with the latest doctrines in multi-domain operations and tactical autonomy.

With its mobility, modularity, and missile-grade firepower, the DRAILER MARSEUS is a concrete step toward integrating robotic warfare into conventional land forces. ARQUUS has opened a new chapter in autonomous ground combat systems, and the defense sector is watching closely as European armies prepare to adopt this new class of weaponized UGVs into their future force structures.