Overview
- France’s chief of defence Fabien Mandon told lawmakers that Germany had withdrawn from the Main Ground Combat System and said “the outcome isn’t good.”
- French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius publicly said MGCS remains an active project and has not been abandoned.
- Mandon later softened his remarks and issued a statement saying the programme is delayed but continuing and remains highly relevant.
- Launched in 2018 to replace the Leopard 2 and Leclerc around 2040, MGCS involves KNDS France, KNDS Germany, Rheinmetall and Thales and has long suffered schedule slips, corporate disputes and political friction.
- The public disagreement follows the collapse of another Franco‑German defence project and raises real risks for jobs, workshare and technology ownership in both countries while officials and industry seek a clear path forward.