French Army’s Leclerc Tank Fleet Faces Critical Gap as Successor Program Delays to 2045
PARIS – France’s main battle tank, teh Leclerc, is nearing the end of its operational life, leaving the French Army facing a critical capability gap as the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) program is now projected to deliver a replacement no sooner than 2045. The aging fleet requires urgent attention,prompting consideration of interim solutions to maintain armored cavalry strength.
The MGCS program, intended to develop a next-generation tank jointly with Germany, is encountering meaningful hurdles. Industrial disagreements, especially concerning the ambitions of German conglomerate Rheinmetall to acquire tank producer KNDS, are stalling progress. According to MP François Cormier-Bouligeon, “We note that despite the convergence of the armies on the expression of their needs and the efforts made by French and German ministers…we are encountering an industrial problem with, let’s be direct, a German industrialist, rheinmetall, whose ambitions appear disproportionate.”
Further complicating matters, France and Germany have diverging timelines for the program. The german Bundesheer possesses a modern Leopard 2 tank and established domestic production capacity, lessening its immediate need for the MGCS. France, however, faces a more pressing situation due to the deteriorating condition of its Leclerc fleet and the lack of a national tank producer.
To bridge the gap, several options are under consideration, including the acquisition of an “intermediate” tank. An “off-the-shelf” purchase is viewed as the most expedient solution, with the German Leopard 2 and the South Korean K2, currently being produced in Poland, emerging as leading candidates. A purchase would align with the Treaty of Nancy, signed last May between France and Poland, aimed at strengthening defense partnerships.
Another potential path involves leveraging the Enhanced Main battle tank (EMBT) program, a KNDS project combining a Leopard 2 chassis with a modified Leclerc turret.
“France cannot (…) do without a revitalized heavy segment, capable of supporting its ambitions of commanding an army corps within the Atlantic Alliance,” concludes Léo Péria-Peigné, highlighting the strategic importance of maintaining a robust armored capability.
