MGCS program: German and French positions are getting closer

The clarifications recently provided by the Bundeswehr regarding its ambitions and expectations regarding the MGCS program show German positions much closer to those expressed by France than could have been thought until now. If this conceptual rapprochement is confirmed, MGCS could even become the pillar of a new model of European industrial cooperation, much more effective and relevant than those applied until now, often with immense difficulties involved.

Among the political takeover announced this summer by the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, and the announced arrival of Italy, the MGCS program seems, for several weeks, to be in a much better position than it was a few months ago.

However, many voices were concerned about the deep differences which seemed to oppose German and French expectations regarding the very design of the armored vehicle.

Thus, if France intended to develop a relatively light tank for great mobility, as well as a range of specialized armored vehicles. Germany, for its part, seemed to want to resume the model that made the success of Leopard 2, namely a heavy armored vehicle capable of carrying out all missions, providing it with numerous additional capabilities.

Positions expressed at the Defense iQ International Armored Vehicles conference in Twickenham, by Colonel Armin Dirks, head of operations of the combined MGCS project team within the Federal Office of Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw), show, on the contrary, that French and German expectations have become considerably closer.

“50 tonnes, not a gram more! »

First of all, the Bundeswehr has resolutely agreed with the idea that the new heavy armored vehicles which will result from this program intended to take over, until 2050, from the Leopard 2, will have to be much lighter than the German tank is today.

Lieutenant General Andreas Marlow, the vice-chief of the German army, had posed the subject in a particularly clear manner, calling for an armored vehicle which would not exceed 50 tonnes, even by one gram.

Clearly, as shown by the recent commitments of Leopard 2, Challenger 2 and Abrams in Ukraine, very heavy tanks, like these which all exceed 60 tons, if they prove, in fact, more resistant and versatile than the T-64M which form the bulk of the Ukrainian armored army, are also noticeably less mobile.

Above all, such a mass generates higher consumption and logistical and maintenance constraints, which ultimately harm the maneuver. This is precisely the reason which led the French to aim for a “lighter” armored vehicle, again around 50 tonnes, without however being as firm on the subject as General Marlow was recently.

One platform, several specialized armored vehicles

With such limited combat mass objectives, there are obviously many constraints on the design of the program. The most important of these is that it will be impossible to put all the equipment and capabilities required to cover all engagement scenarios in a single armored vehicle.

In fact, the Bundeswehr now recommends not one, but a family of armored combat vehicles, designed by the MGCS program. If they all share the same chassis, and certainly the same engine, for maintenance and logistics issues, the armored vehicles will be specialized according to the missions and the equipment carried.

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