Qatar Revives France's VBCI 8x8, Signing Letter of Intent for Several Hundred Armored Vehicles

Qatar signed a letter of intent with KNDS France and Belgium’s John Cockerill Defense on October 21, 2026, for a proposed modernization of its land forces centered on the VBCI Mk2 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle. French reporting describes several hundred vehicles in two tranches, using a KNDS chassis and a Cockerill turret, but neither government confirmed a final quantity, price or delivery schedule. The initiative revives a program discussed in 2017, when Qatar expressed interest in 490 VBCIs without completing a purchase contract. The current letter signals planned negotiations and does not constitute a binding production or delivery order.