France's chief of defense staff, Fabien Mandon, acknowledged Thursday that the Franco-German Main Combat Ground System (MGCS) tank project has failed. Mandon stated that Germany has withdrawn from the program, marking a significant public admission of the project's faltering after years of delays and disputes. While Mandon avoided the term "failure," he noted the industrial implications were not good.
The disagreement over the future of the Franco-German tank project underscores significant challenges in European defense industrial cooperation, potentially impacting the continent's ability to develop advanced military capabilities and maintain strategic autonomy.
Germany's Defense Ministry on Friday dismissed remarks by France's top general, Fabien Mandon, who had stated that Berlin had decided to quit a troubled Franco-German next-generation battle tank project. The dispute highlights ongoing strains in Franco-German defense cooperation, following the cancellation of a joint fighter jet program in June.
Mandon, the French chief of defense staff, had described the outcome of the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) project as "not good" and indicated that Germany had withdrawn. However, a spokesperson for the German Defense Ministry stated that the countries had agreed to adjust their cooperation program, incorporating lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, but that this did not signify the project's failure. The ministry affirmed Germany's commitment to equal partnership and a focus on future technologies for armored combat.
The MGCS project, intended to succeed the German Leopard 2 and French Leclerc tanks, involves tank maker KNDS, a joint venture between France's Nexter and Germany's Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann, as well as Germany's Rheinmetall and France's Thales. The program has been marred by delays and disagreements between the two nations. The French Defense Ministry later issued a statement on behalf of Mandon, emphasizing that work on the joint tank was not in vain and that the program was continuing with an enhanced focus on connectivity, collaborative combat, automation, and robotics.
Pick the topics you care about. Get only what matters, on your cadence.