Eurosatory 2026: What has become of the Main Ground Combat System?
An artistic rendering of the MGCS concept. (Image: KNDS)
The Main Ground Combat System has had a troubled life. With repeated delays and competition on the horizon, the programme may be approaching the end of the road.
With the recent confirmation that the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) has been cancelled, attention is now turning to the other flagship programme of Franco-German cooperation: the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS). Previous editions of Eurosatory have provided new updates on the programme, and Eurosatory 2026 may shed some light on a venture that appears to be trapped in perpetual limbo.
Launched in 2018 as an effort to develop a next-generation main battle tank (MBT) and a family of supporting vehicles, MGCS was intended to deepen defence industrial cooperation between France and Germany, while also providing the countries with a replacement
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