{"id":57707,"date":"2018-06-14T16:38:36","date_gmt":"2018-06-14T16:38:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/06\/14\/when-does-industry-expect-france-and-germany-to-set-its-future-tank-requirements\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:14:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:14:11","slug":"when-does-industry-expect-france-and-germany-to-set-its-future-tank-requirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/eurosatory\/2018\/06\/14\/when-does-industry-expect-france-and-germany-to-set-its-future-tank-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"When does industry expect France and Germany to set its future tank requirements?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The new European Main Battle Tank from KNDS is the body of a German Leopard 2, mixed with the turret of a French Leclerc. (Jeff Martin\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

PARIS \u2015 KNDS expects France and Germany to deliver by early next year key military requirements for a future heavy tank, said the two chairmen of the Franco-German joint venture for land weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWithin this year or latest next year,\u201d said Frank Haun, CEO of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and joint chairman of KNDS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haun and Stephen Mayer, CEO of Nexter and joint chairman of KNDS, spoke June 13 to Defense News at the Eurosatory trade show on land weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those requirements for a next-generation tank are seen as critical to the future of KNDS, formed in 2015. KMW is a private company owned by the Wegmann family, while Nexter<\/a> is state-owned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The French and German defense ministers have given political pledges to back a new tank, dubbed Main Ground Combat System, and new-generation artillery, or Common Indirect Fire System.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Industry leaders are waiting for the French and German army chiefs of staff to set out requirements that will shape the programs, which may lead to a consolidation of European land weapons for industry and lead to the military sharing the same tank and artillery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That Main Ground Combat System will be the successor to the Leclerc and Leopard 2 tanks, the main battle tanks for the French and German armies, respectively. An entry into service is expected in 2035.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are signs of an eagerness for the requirements, which could open a new chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey need something now,\u201d Haun said.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Find out from manufacturer KNDS why they created the European Main Battle Tank–and what’s next for the vehicle. (Jeff Martin\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Much hangs on whether the two army chiefs of staff will agree on a common requirement that would allow French and German industry to design, develop and build the same tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWill they agree?\u201d Haun said. \u201cWe don\u2019t know, but we think so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Added Mayer: \u201cWe think so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The French and German army chiefs of staff are due to meet in the next few weeks to discuss operational requirements, a French military source said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That critical list of requirements launches \u201can iterative process,\u201d with companies studying the operational needs and responding, Mayer said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is more than a political statement but not a final definition,\u201d Hain said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the Berlin Air Show in April, it was reported the French and German defense ministers said a German company would lead the new tank program. German industrial leadership was seen as opening the door to Rheinmetall<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KNDS, however, is confident its capabilities as a \u201csystems house\u201d will lead to winning the prized prime contractorship, and Nexter sees no problem of a German leadership on the tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\t