Germany and France break through in developing MGCS tanks 'stronger than Armata'

Germany and France break through in developing MGCS tanks 'stronger than Armata' Picture 1

The German and French governments have achieved a breakthrough in the way of developing future tanks under the MGCS project. The participants divided tasks and obligations related to the development of this combat platform.

"This is not just an important milestone, it is also a historic moment," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius emphasized when speaking with his French counterpart Sebastien Lecorne.

The agreement includes an equal distribution of work between the two countries, Mr. Pistorius said, adding that the official document on the start of the first phase of development will be signed in Paris on April 26.

MGCS is a project launched by Germany and France in 2017 to replace their current Leopard 2 and Leclerc main battle tanks.

Within the framework of the program, a universal platform will be developed, on the basis of which, in addition to tanks, other vehicles with the same chassis will also be created. In particular, it will include a combination of self-propelled guns and heavy armored personnel carriers.

At the 2022 Eurosatory Exhibition, KNDS presented the MGCS tank technology demonstrator, which, although not a prototype at this stage, still represents a vision of the machine of the future.

In fact, the presented machine was a deeply improved turret of the French Leclerc tank, mounted on the Leopard 2A7 chassis.

From the beginning, the project was in crisis due to a series of serious differences between the two governments regarding production allocation and vision for the new tank.

Currently, this combat vehicle is being built by a French-German joint venture, specifically between KNDS (KMW and Nexter Systems) and the German company Rheinmetall.

Each side is leading the development of a third of the program, ensuring that Nexter will produce 50% of the systems developed, while the two German companies build the remaining 50%.

The first combat vehicle developed under the project is expected to roll off the assembly line in 2035.

Lesley Montoya

Update 03 April 2024