France Considers Withdrawal From Franco-German Tank Project
Rheinmetall CEO cites potential budget cuts for MGCS program
France may withdraw from the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) tank project, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said. Papperger told Welt am Sonntag that France is considering budget cuts to less than half of previous plans.
No decision has been made regarding the withdrawal. Rheinmetall, KNDS, and Thales are stakeholders in the project. Participating companies have received 25 million euros ($29 million) since the project’s inception.
An anonymous French government source said the project remains important to France, Germany, and KNDS. Berlin and Paris agreed to the MGCS project in 2017 to replace Leopard 2 and Leclerc tanks.
Germany and France canceled the 100-billion-euro Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet project. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron determined that participating companies could not reach common ground.
Merz proposed not proceeding with the fighter jet project. The core of the FCAS program will continue as an integrated European system for aircraft and drones.
