Eurosatory 2026: As MGCS stalls, has Europe’s new MBT been unveiled?

Despite a plethora of armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) on display, main battle tanks (MBTs) have continued to dominate the exhibition area of Eurosatory.

This year saw the unveiling of new MBTs by both Rheinmetall and KNDS. Rheinmetall exhibited the New Main Battle Tank (NMBT), designed for the Italian Army by Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRVM). The NMBT will eventually replace the Ariete, and is based on the German KF51 Panther, though it incorporates a Leonardo main gun.

Hyundai Rotem also displayed its K2 Black Panther, currently being procured by Poland, with local production due to commence soon. Given the large quantity of Polish orders and Hyundai’s efforts to expand elsewhere in the European market, the K2’s prominent display was reflective of its growing prominence in Europe.

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KNDS, meanwhile, displayed four MBTs: the Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0 RCT, Leopard 2A8, Leclerc XLR and CAPINT. The CAPINT is a new MBT concept, drawing upon KNDS’ past efforts with the European Main Battle Tank (EMBT). Featuring a Leopard 2 chassis and an Ascalon uncrewed turret, it represents a fusion of KNDS’ German and French halves.

In addition to its main gun, the CAPINT also incorporates a 30mm ARX30 remote weapon station intended to offer a counter-uncrewed aerial system (CUAS) capability. This is a concept also being evaluated by the US Army for its new M1E3 Abrams.

KNDS is pitching the CAPINT as an intermediate solution to replace the Leclerc XLR until the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) is delivered. With an open digital architecture intended to allow for loyal wingman operations through crewed-uncrewed teaming (CUC-T), the CAPINT appears to be a scaled-down version of the original MGCS concept. As already analysed by Shephard, an interim solution is far more likely to become a permanent solution, especially given the long lead times involved in MBT production.

MGCS on the line

Speaking to industry sources at the show, Shephard understands that many believe MGCS’ future is particularly bleak. While Rolls-Royce insisted that MGCS will continue, other sources were less positive. Shephard understands that the CAPINT owes its prominence at the show to a growing acceptance on both sides that MGCS is going nowhere. KNDS is therefore attempting to get ahead of a potential cancellation by having a new solution available, sources claimed.

This is further reinforced by the presence of PSM’s MBT Vision 2032. Displayed as a large-scale model, this represented a concept for a new MBT for the German army currently being developed by PSM. While still early in development, it will incorporate features from previous technology demonstrators, such as the remotely controlled turret from the Leopard 2 3.0 RCT.

The presence of these MGCS alternatives stood in contrast to a presentation given by Rolls-Royce, in which the company detailed the new powerpack it has developed for MGCS. During this presentation, the company insisted that the programme would still go ahead.

Despite Rolls-Royce’s protests to the contrary, the overwhelming sense from many Shephard spoke with at Eurosatory was that MGCS is dead. Sources from KNDS and PSM both indicated to Shephard that attention is now on potential replacements for the programme, hence the presence of new MBT demonstrators. While MBT demonstrators have been exhibited at trade shows before, especially Eurosatory, their reception this year was met with significantly greater interest. The untimely demise of FCAS just prior to the show further underscored the need for an MGCS replacement.

Crucially, these replacements will be strictly national in nature, with no joint development or procurement. Indeed, industry sources disclosed that should the German government opt for PSM’s new MBT concept, it could be in service by 2032, over a decade before MGCS is now expected to arrive.

Interestingly, should MGCS unravel and these new concepts be adopted, KNDS will be the main beneficiary. As the developer of the CAPINT and one of two partners of PSM, the other being Rheinmetall, it will retain its position as the premier European MBT supplier.

Related Programmes in Defence Insight

MGCS [Germany]

MGCS [France]

Leclerc XLR [France]

Related Equipment in Defence Insight

Leopard 2A7/A8

Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0

Leclerc XLR