After the cancellation of the sixth-generation fighter program, the Franco-German next-generation tank project has also fallen through.
It must be acknowledged that Europe continues to demonstrate, through concrete outcomes, how hollow its proclaimed "unity" truly is.
Following the collapse of the FCAS sixth-generation fighter collaboration, on October 8, French Chief of Defence Staff Fabien Mandon announced that Germany has decided to withdraw from the jointly developed next-generation main battle tank initiative—known as the Ground Main Combat System (MGCS) program.
Launched in 2017, MGCS was intended to replace France’s Leclerc tanks and Germany’s Leopard 2 tanks, with an original target for deployment around 2045. Germany’s withdrawal now effectively marks the official failure of the project.
According to defense media reports, the root cause of MGCS’s collapse remains the classic issue of unequal distribution of interests.
The initial plan assigned Germany responsibility for the vehicle hull and chassis, while France was to lead the development of the gun and turret systems. However, in 2019, Germany insisted on including Rheinmetall in the project, positioning it as a competitor to the French-led gun component. France advocated for the use of the ASCALON 140mm gun system, while Germany preferred Rheinmetall’s 130mm variant.
Despite repeated attempts at negotiation, no consensus was reached, leading to multiple delays. The partnership ultimately collapsed on October 8, 2024.
Notably, since the beginning of the 21st century, Franco-German defense research collaborations—excluding joint production arrangements—have yet to yield a successful outcome.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878568211057796/
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