The joint French-German project MGCS was launched in 2017, but its development has been stalled since then. The project was still in the SADS 1 phase in 2024.
The joint French-German project Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) aims to design a “family” of systems such as new-generation tanks, drones and robots and integrate them into a “battle cloud”. However, the establishment of the project company has been delayed and the German Bundestag has not yet fully supported the project.
The memorandum signed by French Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in April 2024 aimed to resolve industrial disagreements and determine technological choices through tests. In particular, the MGCS’s main weapon system is a competitilandon between Rheinmetall’s 130 mm cannon and KNDS’s ASCALON system.
KNDS’s ASCALON system offers rapid caliber change capability between 120 mm and 140 mm and superior ammunition performance. The system, introduced at the 2024 Eurosatory, promises performance “beyond new technologies.”
KNDS announced its results by sharing ASCALON’s 140 mm and 120 mm test images via the media. The company stated that the system draws attention with its innovative features such as compact structure, superior power and easy integration.
