The Franco-German cooperation took a significant step forward in Berlin yesterday, with the Defense Ministers of both countries agreeing to launch the next phase of development for the system to succeed the Leclerc and Leopard tanks by 2040-2045.
The Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) agreement was reached after eight months of negotiations between the two ministers. The workload for the development and production phases will be split equally between French and German industrial partners, moving away from the previous technological demonstrators to focus on capacity pillars.
The eight pillars of focus will include traditional and innovative firepower, platforms, communication and command systems (C2), combat clouds, simulation, sensors, and necessary infrastructure for the future “system of systems.” These pillars will structurally shape the entire program.
The MGCS will go beyond being just a successor to current tanks, incorporating innovations like laser weapons to counter anti-drone threats and extensive use of artificial intelligence in command systems and sensors.
Key players in the program will include KNDS (Nexter+KMW) and Rheinmetall, along with other industry leaders like MBDA, Thales, and Safran. The team will work on a pre-demonstrator and address questions about the composition and size of MGCS platforms.
The signing of the legal commitment for phase 1A is set for April 26 in Paris, with contracts expected to be awarded to selected industrial partners by the end of the year by Germany, the project lead. The cost is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of euros, with France allocating 500 million euros from its military budget for 2024-2030 for MGCS.
This progress opens up new possibilities for expansion, with other European countries expressing interest in joining the project. Italy, as a full observer, is one of the first countries considering closer involvement in the future.
