Decision on the French interim tank will be made as early as 2026. This is all because current Leclercs are planned for retirement in 2037, meaning it has only slightly more than a decade left.
The French Ministry of Defense gave this answer to a parliamentary inquiry, adding that several options are already being considered. The new solution should prevent loss of combat capabilities after old vehicles are retired.
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At the same time, planned Leclerc modernization to XLR level will continue. Besides other updates, they emphasize equipping with counter-drone solutions. However, the latter in practice are still only barbecue grills, while full-fledged active and passive protection is still being developed.
Regarding the new generation under the joint MGCS project with Germany, it's described not just as one tank but an entire system of various vehicles, including robotic ones. They also repeated that readiness is expected only in the 2040s.
Defense Express notes that we now have defined Leclerc replacement timelines. In other words, new equipment procurement is now based not only on insufficient quantities of existing ones. The question remains in choice, because the French have forgotten how to manufacture new tanks from scratch.
At the same time, a 140mm gun was recently tested in the new ADT 140 unmanned turret on Leopard 2 chassis. Perhaps the interim solution will be something similar, or from imported elements they’ll still try to make a French platform.
However, even in case of a quick decision, one will most likely have to wait until 2030 or even later. Leclercs, of which there are only 200 units total, will continue to be the tank fleet’s backbone. However, it's now clear we're not talking about another 20-25 years of operation.
Although the MGCS project is seen as the industry's future, it may collapse following the FCAS sixth-generation fighter. Therefore, the interim tank will most likely turn into the main one.
At the same time, Germany is also working on its own interim solution, especially given competence in creating from scratch. They've already managed to divide work on this vehicle, also called Leopard.
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