Main Ground Combat System
The Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) is a project by France and Germany since 2012 to replace their currently deployed Leclerc and Leopard 2 main battle tanks (MBTs). In 2016, the program was in the concept phase which was projected to be completed by 2017. At the 2016 Eurosatory, Rheinmetall presented the MBT Advanced Technology Demonstrator on the basis of a Leopard 2A4 Evolution concept. At the 2018 Eurosatory, KMW+Nexter Defense Systems (KNDS) unveiled the "European Main Battle Tank" (E-MBT), a hybrid combining the hull of a Leopard 2A7 with the lighter, two-man turret  of a Leclerc. The previously independent companies KMW and Nexter intended to demonstrate that both could cooperate and jointly develop a next generation tank. The contract for the first part of the System Architecture Definition Study was signed in May 2020 by the German armed forces' procurement office on behalf of both nations to a consortium consisting of Rheinmetall, Nexter and KMW (KNDS), with the aim of assessing different aspects of the programme such as interoperability with national systems, harmonising requirements and defining a multi-platform architecture for the future MGCS. The study is to be conducted over 18 months . The workshare during this phase is split between French and German companies. The System Architecture Definition Study is part of the Technology Demonstration Phase (TDP), which is to be completed by 2024 and is to be followed by the overall system demonstrator phase (GSDP) until 2028, after which initial production and testing is to occur. Deployment of the new vehicles and systems is scheduled for 2035, with full operational capability to be achieved by 2040. Design. According to the French-German state research Institute of Saint-Louis (ISL), MGCS is to result in a future land warfare system which may  include unmanned, including autonomous ground and aerial vehicles, and manned assets in the light, medium or heavy weight class as well as associated weaponry. As such, the aim of the MGCS development is to produce a means to deliver a set of capabilities currently provided by main battle tanks – yet not necessarily a typical "single platform" MBT; and requires the development of new tactics and collaborative combat capabilities in addition to new vehicles. One precondition for a new tank may be the development of a new main cannon with better performance. German defence company Rheinmetall showcased a new 130 mm  tank cannon at the Eurosatory military trade fair in 2016, the Rh-130 L/51. It is designed to offer better performance than the current Rh-120 L/55 introduced with the Leopard 2A6. EMBT. For KNDS' exhibition at Eurosatory, the hull, engine and entire chassis of a Leopard 2A7 which can carry 68 tons were modified to host the lighter, more compact, autoloader-equipped turret of the Leclerc. According to Nexter's head of tracked and armor programs, Francois Groshany, the benefit of the tank is the combination of the "very high capability" Leopard 2 chassis with the lighter Leclerc turret. The 2 -man Leclerc turret is approximately 6 tons lighter than the 3-man Leopard 2 turret. The lower weight of the vehicle enables it to traverse bridges that might not be able to support heavier tanks. Full-scale development of the tank could be launched if export customers are found. Users. The French media has reported Italian and Polish ministries of defence have voiced their interest in joining the project and hoped to see its inclusion in the EU's PESCO program and other forms of EU defence funding. On January 4, 2020 Poland was reported to have been excluded from  the project, while a month later French President Emmanuel Macron was reported to "appear open" towards a Polish participation in MGCS during a state visit. Korean manufacturer Hyundai Rotem is interested in producing a version of the K2 Black Panther tank in Poland under license from 2023 for the "Wilk" programme, replacing T-72s and PT-91s. The Spanish Army announced its interest in replacing its fleet of Leopard 2E MBTs with the MGCS once available.