Germany and France favour a multi-platform concept, for which sophisticated and innovative technologies are required. The MGCS goes well beyond a purely linear continuation of the existing capabilities of the Leopard 2 main battle tank. This means that a binational contractor structure has been achieved for SADS Part 1.

For the implementation of SADS Part 1, the companies Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) on the German side and Nexter on the French side have agreed to form a working team.

The aim is to define, develop and implement a new state-of-the-art main battle tank in order to achieve delivery of the first systems by 2035, when the main battle tank fleets in service (Leopard 2 and Leclerc) will be decommissioned.

The German MoD intends to carry out the MGCS as a cooperative project with Germany and France as equal partners, each contributing 50% of the financial requirements and work shares, taking into account the relevant national industry.įor the 18-month System Architecture Definition Study (SADS) Part 1, the financial requirement per nation (maximum limited) is approximately €75 million. With consultation of the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) project in the German Bundestag studies for the new main combat system can now be commissioned.

Main battle tank and concept art