German Defense Ministry published press release based on Franco-German ministerial council meeting results, which among everything contains formulation regarding pan-European future combat tank MGCS (Main Ground Combat System) project, very clearly hinting euro tank unofficially ended existence following scandalous FCAS fighter.
"Within Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) project framework, Germany and France will develop platform-independent technology for future manned and unmanned armored platforms and their networked interaction with main battle tanks," German Defense Ministry press release states, as quoted by hartpunkt. Although neither Germany nor France officially made announcement about MGCS project cancellation, this sentence makes clearly understood — joint pan-European tank will not exist, and now each country will go its own way in combat vehicle development.
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Moreover, situation very strongly resembles FCAS fighter history, in whose creation France and Germany also participated among others — parties abandoned joint aircraft development but agreed on further work on so-called combat cloud uniting manned and unmanned combat aviation platforms.
Although MGCS was not remembered for as loud public quarrels as occurred between Dassault Aviation and Airbus in FCAS project, it was already long clear euro tank was on verge of collapse. For example, earlier this year France accused Germany of MGCS delay, because of which decided to seek interim solution for replacing their Leclerc tanks.
German publication meanwhile again recalled why Germany actually will not grieve much over MGCS collapse: "Whatever the future designation of program remnants may be, this should become positive event for armored forces of German armed forces. Now they have opportunity to advance those system developments they consider promising for future without taking into account French requirements."
Especially since in Europe there is MARTE (Main ARmoured Tank of Europe) tank project, which already in March overtook MGCS and where companies like KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall participate.
Despite Germany not being only participant with 10 more countries, leading role in program will nevertheless belong to Germans.
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