Arctic mobility is becoming an increasingly important topic among NATO allies, all-terrain tracked vehicles being therefore visible in different forms at the 2026 edition of the Paris exhibition. Among them the Bronco 3, by ST Engineering of Singapore, could be seen in two different configurations. On the dynamic demonstration area, in a MUM-T configuration with the company Taurus UGV, and at the inside booth, in the Alpine variant, developed for the Austrian Army
In the dusty scenario of the dynamic demo proving ground, the Bronco ATV entered the scene full steam, as a three elements combination, the two-wagon Bronco having on tow the Taurus UGV in an armed configuration. The Bronco on demo was the one being developed by ST Engineering together with Leonardo and ARIS of Italy, aimed at the call that should be soon issued by the Italian Army to renews its all-terrain vehicles. The 16-tonne gross vehicle mass ATV was here presents in the shelter carrier version, The shelter hosted the command and control element of the UGV which was towed by the Bronco at high speed in the initial part of the demo.
Once decoupled from the ATV, either manually or using the automated coupling system, the 2.65-tonne 4×4 wheeled fully electric autonomous vehicle, fitted with an ST Engineering Adder remote weapon station fitted with soft- and hard-kill effectors used to counter the UAV threat. On-board RF and E/O sensors allowed threat detection and tracking, jammers and the 7.62×51 mm machine gun dealing with it, ST Engineering also proposing its 40 mm automatic grenade launcher with ABM rounds in this role.
The Taurus demo left the floor to the Bronco 3, which showed its mobility, even with the cumbersome shelter, from CONLOG of Finland, installed on the rear element of the articulated tracked vehicle. While the Eurosatory demo took place on a dusty track, the fully amphibious Bronco 3 has proved its agility on snow, swamp, desert, and broken ground while carrying a 6-tonne payload.
At the ST Engineering booth, the Bronco 3 was visible in another configuration, purposely developed for the Austrian Army. Born as an all-terrain vehicle to cope with soft ground, the need to operate in the high mountains with steep gradients has been met with a series of upgrades.
Two major changing concern the engine. While maintaining the same output, the torque has been increased to better cope with high gradients. On the other hand, braking has been improved adding exhaust brake; by creating a physical restriction in the exhaust system, it builds up back pressure inside the engine, causing the vehicle to naturally decelerate slowing the vehicle without relying on traditional brake pads, something pretty useful when dealing with steep descents, typical of alpine scenarios. Differential locks have been added. The vehicle was fitted with ST Engineering CleArmour windscreen and windows transparent, this lightweight, transparent ceramic material being 50% lighter than conventional glass armour according to ST Engineering, the company also adding that in offers superior optical clarity and multi-hit mitigation against armour-piercing threats.
The “Alpine Ready” Bronco 3 seen at Eurosatory was a pre-production vehicle and was fitted with a number of kits provided by Austrian companies. At the front we could find a dozer blade/snow plough that could be oriented right and left and up or down, provided by Kalbacher, a specialist in winter service equipment. To increase traction when confronted with icy terrain Soucy composite tracks will be fitted with metal elements provided by Pewag, a specialist in chains for heavy equipment. Finally, on top of the two wagons we could see metal boxes by EMPL installed to host extra equipment.
The presence of ST Engineering Bronco 3 at Eurosatory with the Italian and Austrian related vehicles, which adds to the agreement with Sisu of Finland, underlined the will of the Singaporean group to expend its footprint in the Old Continent.
Photos by P. Valpolini
