The Franco-German Joint Tank Project Faces Failure

Reference News Network, June 15 According to a report from the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on June 12, following the failure of the "Future Combat Air System" (FCAS) fighter jet project, the next Franco-German cooperative project is also at risk of failure: Berlin and Paris have been trying to advance a joint tank project named the "Main Ground Combat System" (MGCS) for the past five years, but with little success. Moreover, as the war in Ukraine continues, questions are being raised about the future of heavy tanks on the battlefield. NATO decision-makers and German generals have repeatedly affirmed their necessity, but only if they are equipped with advanced technology, effective drone defense systems, and digital networks.

Therefore, the future Franco-German joint tank not only symbolizes cooperation between the two countries but also has several practical advantages. Unlike in the past, neither France nor Germany has the capacity or willingness to produce thousands of 60-ton main battle tanks independently. During the Cold War, the Bundeswehr equipped about 2,000 of these attack weapons, along with over 2,000 infantry fighting vehicles. However, about 90% of this equipment has since been sold, donated, or decommissioned.

Currently, the Bundeswehr has about 300 "Leopard"-2 tanks, including older models and upgraded versions. Starting in 2027, modernized A8 tanks will be delivered gradually, with an annual delivery volume of about 35 units.

At the end of the Cold War, France had about 1,000 older main battle tanks. Among the newer "Leclerc" main battle tanks produced in the 1990s, about 150 to 200 are still in service today.

France has not produced a new type of main battle tank in nearly 20 years.

So, why not let the two largest economies in Europe undertake a joint project? This way, in the event of a conflict, rapid expansion in the heart of Europe can be ensured.

The tank project has faced numerous internal difficulties over the years, and the jointly developed weapon system has yet to take shape. If Europe indeed must prepare to respond to Russia's capability to attack NATO, as repeatedly described by Bundeswehr Chief Carsten Breuer, starting in 2029, then this is clearly not a favorable condition for developing a joint main battle weapon system. Although since 2025, Germany has secured all the funding needed to expand its tank forces, the delivery capacity of defense contractors remains limited, and they are still primarily competing for orders in government procurement contracts.

Tanks have played almost no role on the battlefield in Ukraine, and there has been little news about the German "Leopard" tanks (including their modernized versions) after their transfer. Fourteen advanced A6 tanks from a tank battalion in Augustdorf were forced to be handed over and were later found in a maintenance hangar in Lithuania, but most were damaged or partially destroyed. Unlike the IRIS-T air defense system also provided by Germany, little is known about the performance of these tanks in combat against Russian forces.

Therefore, whether this project is a Franco-German collaboration or an independent design, it remains to be seen whether it is truly necessary to spend billions of euros on tank development. (Translation by Wang Ziqiang)