Cockerill i-X armored vehicle undergoes a series of tests by French Army.

A recent series of tests was conducted by the French Army (Section Technique de l’Armée de Terre) on the Cockerill i-X, a land interceptor vehicle. This vehicle, a product of Franco-Belgian collaboration, was put through its paces over five days, undergoing rolling tests and firing sessions. Cockerill made this announcement on November 23, 2023.
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The Cockerill i-X is an armored vehicle manufactured by the Belgian company Cockerill. (Picture source: vidéo footage from Cockerill)

In a recent statement, the teams at John Cockerill Defense expressed their gratitude to the French Army (Section Technique de l’Armée de Terre) for the enriching exchanges during the five days of intensive evaluation of the Cockerill i-X. These interactions were described as extremely valuable for the future development of this land interceptor vehicle. Emphasis was placed on the importance of this collaboration, which allowed for the sharing of knowledge and expertise, essential for refining and enhancing the capabilities and functionalities of the Cockerill i-X. This evaluation period provided a unique platform for testing the vehicle in real conditions, thus enabling the teams at John Cockerill Defense to gather direct and valuable feedback from defense professionals, significantly contributing to the evolution of this project.

The Cockerill i-X was presented as part of the VBAE (Véhicule Blindé d'Aide à l'Engagement) programme. It is a joint initiative of France and Belgium, embodying the spirit of transnational cooperation in defense, with the participation of renowned companies such as Nexter Systems ( KNDS) and Arquus from France, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann from Germany, Patria from Finland, and John Cockerill from Belgium.

This vehicle stands out for its retractable weapon system, capable of carrying 25mm or 30mm automatic cannons and anti-tank missiles. It has a 360° swivel capability and a tilt range of -10° to +60°, allowing for effective engagement of both ground and aerial targets.

Built on a chassis specially designed for the Paris-Dakar rally, it combines speed and resilience, capable of reaching a maximum speed of 200 km/h on the road and 160 km/h in desert conditions, all with a range of 600 km. Its ballistic protection, compliant with Level 2 STANAG 4569, and its Level 3 STANAG mine protection, ensure optimal safety for the crew.

The onboard technologies, such as multi-sensor data fusion, the Smart Helmet, and the fully digitized man-machine interface, provide improved information management and visibility, essential for quick decision-making on the battlefield.

These tests pave the way for broader adoption of the Cockerill i-X by armed forces, promising a significant improvement in their operational capability and positioning this vehicle as a key element in the future of European and global land defense.