France – Germany | Finalization of Shareholder Agreement for MGCS Defence Project
Defence Redefined
Published on 26/01/2025 at 15:36

In a significant milestone for European defence collaboration, KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, and Thales have signed a shareholder agreement for MGCS Project Company GmbH. 

The ceremony took place in Paris, witnessed by French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.

The Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) project aims to replace the Leopard 2 and Leclerc main battle tanks with an advanced cross-platform combat system by 2040. 

According to a related announcement, the signing of the agreement marks a pivotal step in the project’s development, ensuring the creation of a dedicated industrial prime contractor to oversee the next phase of implementation.

The MGCS Project Company will operate under equal ownership among the partners, each holding a 25% stake. With its headquarters set in Cologne, Germany, the venture will ensure a balanced national workshare of 50% for Germany and France, consolidating the technological pillars and concepts of the future system.

This partnership builds on the momentum established in spring 2024 when the French and German governments signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to propel the program forward. 

The collaboration demonstrates the commitment of both nations to fostering standardised and interchangeable defence equipment.

Also read: MGCS | France and Germany agree on new-generation combat platform

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