Germany has decided to pull out of a joint program with France aimed at developing a next-generation battle tank, French Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Fabien Mandon said Thursday, according to French broadcaster BFMTV.
Mandon was referring to the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), saying Germany’s decision to leave the project did not represent a total failure. He said the two countries’ armies had spent years working together to establish the requirements and key features of a future combat tank.
Speaking before the National Assembly, Mandon said the cooperation had helped define the system’s fundamental principles, although he acknowledged that Germany’s withdrawal was unfavorable from an industrial perspective.
Launched in 2017, the MGCS was designed to replace France’s Leclerc and Germany’s Leopard 2 tanks with a new ground combat system centered on an advanced main battle tank.
The project has experienced repeated delays and disagreements over industrial responsibilities, funding and technology. Its expected deployment has reportedly been pushed back to around 2040 or 2045.
Mandon said France would continue to require heavy combat capabilities, stressing that tank firepower remains important on the modern battlefield.
He also called for complementary military platforms featuring robotics, artificial intelligence and improved data-sharing systems. Such technologies could allow future combat units to operate with fewer personnel.
Mandon said France plans to gradually phase out its Leclerc tanks beginning in 2038 and must start the necessary studies in 2027 to prepare for the transition.
Germany’s withdrawal represents another setback for defense cooperation between Paris and Berlin. It comes four months after difficulties ended the Future Combat Air System project, another initiative launched in 2017 with Spain to develop a next-generation fighter intended to eventually replace the Rafale and Eurofighter during the 2040s.
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