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France reaffirms that its joint tank project with Germany continues

France’s defence ministry reaffirmed that the joint Main Ground Combat System programme with Germany continues, after the French military chief suggested Berlin had withdrawn. French and German ministers also backed its continuation. The project aims to replace Leclerc and Leopard tanks around 2040, while differences over military requirements, schedules and industrial work-sharing have complicated its development.

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A single turretless tracked tank hull stands in a bright workshop beneath French and German national flags.

Defence ministry corrects the withdrawal claim

France’s defence ministry reaffirmed that its joint Main Ground Combat System programme with Germany continues. Known as MGCS, the project is intended to replace the two countries’ main battle tanks. The clarification followed French military chief Fabien Mandon’s statement at a parliamentary hearing on Thursday that Germany had decided to leave.[1], [2]

Mandon qualified his comments that evening, saying work continued despite delays. On October 9, French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius also backed continuation at their meeting in Le Haillan, near Bordeaux in southwestern France. Pistorius said the programme had neither been stopped nor abandoned.[1]

Leclerc and Leopard replacement planned around 2040

The programme aims to replace France’s Leclerc and Germany’s Leopard 2 tanks around 2040. Euronews dates its launch to 2018. Differences between the countries’ military requirements and schedules have complicated development, alongside disputes about how industrial work should be shared. The programme’s contracts also concern jobs, strategic technologies and export opportunities.[1]

Manufacturers face unsettled work-sharing

KNDS, the defence group formed by combining France’s Nexter and Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, was originally expected to have a central role. German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall joined in 2019, adding complexity to the allocation of responsibilities. KNDS’s French and German businesses, Rheinmetall and their suppliers have been planning around an unsettled schedule while seeking to preserve technical capabilities and future work shares.[1]

References

  1. News sourceEuronewsFrance and Germany reaffirm joint tank programme↩1↩2↩3↩4
  2. News sourceZone Militaire / Opex360France says joint tank programme with Germany continues↩
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