France, Germany Advance European Battle Tank Project

France and Germany have formalized their joint commitment to the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) project with the signing of a shareholder agreement by KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, and Thales.

The agreement, witnessed by French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, was signed in Paris on January 23.

The MGCS initiative aims to replace the Leopard 2 and Leclerc tanks by 2040 with a multi-platform combat system integrating manned and unmanned capabilities. The newly established MGCS Project Company GmbH will function as the industrial prime contractor, consolidating concepts and technology for the system.

Based in Cologne, Germany, the company is equally owned by the four partners, with a 50-50 industrial workshare between Germany and France. This collaboration follows a Letter of Intent signed in spring 2024 by the French and German governments to promote interoperability and standardization in defense systems.