Rheinmetall Warns of France Exit from MGCS Tank Project

Rheinmetall concerned about MGCS tank project Papperger: "We have Zero Information about the Final Budget regarding France"

2026-06-11 From Detlev Karg 1 min Reading Time

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Following the collapse of the planned Franco-German next-generation fighter jet programme, defence contractor Rheinmetall fears France could also withdraw from the joint Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) tank project.

Rheinmetall' CEO Armin Papperger fears a French withdrawal from the MGCS tank project. (Picture: Rheinmetall AG) — Rheinmetall' CEO Armin Papperger fears a French withdrawal from the MGCS tank project.
(Picture: Rheinmetall AG)

According to Papperger, France is planning to significantly reduce funding for the MGCS programme. “There have been no decisions on the final budget,” he said. The result would be further delays. “If less money is available, progress will not be any faster, and we are already moving very slowly”, he told German weekly "Welt am Sonntag".

Project launched by the French and German governments

The Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) programme was launched at the initiative of the French and German governments. Its aim is to replace the Leopard 2 and Leclerc main battle tanks with a next-generation, multi-platform ground combat system by 2040. Alongside Rheinmetall, the project involves French defence group Thales and KNDS, the company formed through the merger of Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and France’s state-owned defence manufacturer Nexter.

Interim solution already underway

As an interim solution ahead of MGCS, Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland have already begun developing a new main battle tank, unofficially referred to by defence media as the “Leopard 3”. The first vehicles are expected to enter service in the early 2030s, while the MGCS is not expected to become operational until the 2040s. “That is an incredibly long timeframe. Today, I cannot say whether there will even be an MGCS programme in the end,” Papperger said.

Cooperation with Leonardo: an alternative?

Rheinmetall already operates a joint venture with Italian Leonardo group: Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRMV) aims to develop and manufacture a new generation of armoured combat vehicles for the Italian Army and export customers: The KF51 Panther main battle tank: Italy's future standard battle tank is based on Rheinmetall's KF51 Panther and the KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicle: The Lynx forms the backbone of the Armoured Infantry Combat System (AICS) programme and will be produced in several variants for the Italian Army.

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