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Franco-German Next-Gen Tank Project Reaches Key Milestone

KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, and Thales have signed a shareholder agreement to form a joint venture for future main battle tank development.

The Franco-German Main Combat System of the Future is a replacement for the German Leopard 2 and the French Leclerc main battle tanks, with estimated delivery by 2040.

The joint venture is an essential step in the commencement of actual work.

It will allow the Cologne-based company to be the prime industrial contractor for the program’s next phase.

The development marks the project’s progress despite obstacles, such as disagreements between the two countries over budget share, allocation of industrial responsibilities, and the development of key technologies, including weapons and parts.

The project’s first phase will focus on developing eight key technologies, such as artificial intelligence-based decision-making tools, advanced active protection systems, interoperability, and next-generation communication systems. 

It will reportedly span four years and culminate with the delivery of a prototype by 2030.

Joint Venture

The company’s ownership is evenly distributed among the four firms. Likewise, the project’s industrial activities are equally divided between the two nations.

“This is an essential step in the upcoming creation of the MGCS Project Company, which has now been completed,” KNDS said in a press release.

“Following the negotiation of a contract with the [German defense procurement agency], acting on behalf of the two states through a Franco-German Combined Project Team, this project company will be responsible, as industrial project manager, for the execution of the MGCS program.

In particular, the consolidation of the concept and the main technological building blocks of the system.”

Main Combat System of the Future

The project will churn out a series of ground platforms based on a common combat system, featuring next-generation offensive and defensive capabilities.

It could include a manned gun vehicle accompanied by a manned support vehicle with missiles and an unmanned ground vehicle with sensors and longer-range effectors.

The vehicle will weigh less than 50 tonnes (110,231 pounds) and feature a main gun with significant capability enhancement over the current 120mm used on the Leclerc and the Leopard 2. 

One such proposed candidate is the Nexter 140mm ASCALON, which is compatible with a variety of munitions featuring a higher range and the capability to penetrate modern reactive armor and other defensive technologies.

It could also be integrated with a directed energy weapon and a hypersonic-guided missile.

Additional features include greater digitization and automation, as well as networking with other platforms.

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