France Demonstrates Ground Robot Armed with Akeron Anti-Tank Missiles

French defense company Arquus has presented a new robotic ground system, the DRAILER MARSEUS, equipped with eight Akeron LP anti-tank missiles, at the Techterre 2025 exhibition.

Photos of the system were published on Arquus’s official X account.

The DRAILER MARSEUS platform integrates a weapon station armed with eight MBDA Akeron LP missiles, capable of striking targets at ranges of up to 8 km, including beyond line of sight.

Arquus says the system allows anti-tank strikes without exposing infantry to enemy fire.

The Akeron LP is a fifth-generation missile weighing less than 100 kg. It features multi-mode homing, encrypted communications, and can be operated in both “fire-and-forget” and operator-guided modes. It is designed to engage a wide range of targets, from armored vehicles to fortified positions.

The DRAILER platform itself is a hybrid-electric unmanned ground vehicle with four steerable wheels, capable of traveling up to 100 km at speeds of 20 km/h. It has a payload capacity of up to 700 kg and is designed for multiple roles including electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and counter-drone operations.

The MARSEUS system was developed under the EU-funded Modular Architecture Solutions for EU States (MARSEUS) program, supported by the European Defence Fund. A final live-fire demonstration is scheduled for September 24, 2025.

The Akeron missile family is gradually becoming the main anti-tank weapon in French service. Akeron MP missiles are already deployed with infantry in portable configurations, while variants are also slated for integration into new anti-tank platforms and French Tiger helicopters.

Earlier this year, MBDA successfully completed the first test launch of the Akeron LP missile as part of the MAST-F (Future Tactical Air-Ground Missile) program managed by OCCAR. The test validated the performance of both the booster and main engine, confirming a ground-launch range of up to 8 km.

The shorter-range Akeron MP, already in service, is the world’s only fifth-generation anti-tank missile that has been tested in combat. It weighs 15 kg, measures 1.3 meters in length, and is housed in a 140 mm diameter container. The MP version has an effective range exceeding 4 km and supports autonomous targeting via the “fire-and-forget” capability.