European cooperation in the defense sector is facing yet another setback. After the problems with the German-French FCAS fighter program, a similar fate has befallen the joint tank project under the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) program.
The matter is reported by Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, citing the final document of the 26th session of the Franco-German Defense and Security Council. There is no mention of a joint tank in it. The document merely states that the parties will 'examine a systemic approach as an integral part of future multi-domain operations.’
France and Germany signed the agreement to create the MGCS on April 26, 2024.
Historical moment now a distant memory
– This is more than a breakthrough, it is a historic moment – said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in March 2024.
MGCS (Main Ground Combat System) was intended to replace the Leopard 2 (in the German Armed Forces) and Leclerc (in France) tanks. By 2035, it was to replace these vehicles in the armies of both countries. The program was initiated in 2017, five years before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Later, competition between national defense industries and differing interests between Paris and Berlin became factors hindering the project’s development – as is now evident.
Another major European project collapses
This is another such project abandoned by European powers. In June, it was reported that after years of preparation, the German-French project to build a joint FCAS fighter had ended in failure.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly agreed that Dassault and Airbus are unable to reach an agreement on building a joint combat aircraft. The new fighter was to replace the Eurofighter (used by Germany) and the French Rafale from 2040. The project, whose cost was estimated at over 100 billion euros, assumed the interaction of the fighter with drones and a combat cloud command network.
What went wrong with MGCS
Sources close to the talks point to fundamental disagreements over the division of industrial work, technology transfer, and export rights. France wanted to maintain leadership in key areas such as the turret and main armament, while Germany insisted on its supremacy in propulsion and chassis. These disputes paralyzed the program for years, and the political will to overcome them has now evaporated.
Without a joint tank, both countries will likely proceed with national modernization programs for their existing fleets. Germany will invest in extending the life of the Leopard 2 (e.g., the Leopard 2A8 variant), while France may push ahead with an enhanced Leclerc upgrade or seek alternative European partnerships.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Shutterstock
