Key facts
- France may exit the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) tank project.
- Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger cited potential French budget cuts as a reason for the risk.
- France is reportedly considering reducing the project's budget to less than half of previous plans.
- The project, agreed upon in 2017, has already experienced delays.
- The involved companies have collectively received only €25 million since the project began.
France could withdraw from the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) tank project, according to Armin Papperger, CEO of German defense firm Rheinmetall AG. Papperger stated that there is always a risk of such an exit, though no final decision has been made.
He indicated that France is contemplating substantial reductions to the project's budget, with discussions involving cutting spending to less than half of the original plans. Papperger also noted that the companies involved, including KNDS and Thales, have collectively received only €25 million ($29 million) since the project's inception.