The appearance of the newest Russian tank T-14 "Armata", which has a number of characteristic features and serious advantages over existing equipment, could not but disturb the foreign military. The armies of European countries do not intend to allow a lag in the field of armored forces, and therefore initiated the creation of a new combat vehicle. The European response to the Russian T-14 tank should be a promising prototype, while still bearing the working designation MGCS.
On May 9, 2015, Russia for the first time officially showed its latest T-14 tanks. At that time, this technique was at the testing stage and was not yet ready for operation in the troops. However, the new Russian project has become a cause for concern. Further development of a promising tank and the launch of its serial production could give the Russian army decisive advantages over the ground forces of third countries. While other states again talked about a certain Russian threat, France and Germany decided to respond to "Armata" with their own ambitious program.
Leopard 2A7 + is the latest modernization of a German tank. Photo Below-the-turret-ring.blogspot.fr
Already in the summer of 2015, it was announced that the leading defense enterprises of Germany and France intend to join forces and update the armored forces of the two countries. It was proposed to first modernize the existing equipment, and then develop a promising main battle tank that fully meets the requirements of the present and foreseeable future. To obtain the desired organizational and technological benefits, the project participants decided not only to work together, but also to unite at the organizational level. The German company Kraus-Maffei Wegmann and the French Nexter Defense Systems have merged into a holding. The combined organization was named KNDS - KMW and Nexter Defense Systems.
The merger of the two companies took place for simple and understandable reasons. First, the joint work of leading defense enterprises will ensure the use of all available experience in the field of armored combat vehicles. The second reason has to do with cost sharing. For a number of reasons, at the moment France and Germany cannot independently create the desired model of military equipment. Finally, the KNDS holding will be able to circumvent some of the existing restrictions. German industry, for political reasons, cannot always sign a contract for the supply of equipment to a specific country, and the participation of France will help get rid of such problems.
The new program for updating the tank fleet is tentatively called MGCS - Mobile Ground Combat System ("Mobile ground combat system"). In the future, a promising main tank created during the program is likely to receive a different designation. According to the announced plans, part of the project was to be implemented during the second half of this decade. In addition, much of the development work will go into the twenties. The start of serial production of MGCS tanks will begin only by 2030. In this regard, the project is sometimes referred to as MGCS 2030.
It is curious that within the framework of the MGCS project, it is planned not only to create a completely new tank, but also to update the existing ones. So, two stages of the Mobile Ground Combat System program out of three provide for the refinement of existing tanks. According to various sources, in the foreseeable future, KNDS intends to update the electronics and armament of the existing Leopard 2 tanks. Only after that, the main work on the design of a full-fledged tank of a new model will start.
Despite the existence of such plans, starting in 2016, the developers of the MGCS project indicated that in the first few years, the goal of the work would be to shape the appearance of a new tank and determine the technical requirements. Not earlier than 2017-18, it was supposed to begin the preparation of design documentation, as well as the study of certain units. The end of the design stage is attributed to the beginning of the next decade.
If the MGCS project at the current early stages did not encounter certain problems that could affect the timing of the work, then by now KNDS specialists can at least have a general idea of the future appearance of the tank. It should be noted that to date, the development organization has not disclosed the technical details of the project. However, certain participants in the work several times published certain information that can form the basis for a relatively complete picture.
French MBT AMX-56 Leclerc. Photo Wikimedia Commons
According to the available data, the MGCS project proposes the development of a main tank with a combat mass of no more than 60 tons. Enhanced booking and other means of protection should be used that can increase the survivability of vehicles on different battlefields. Also, a new type of tank should differ from existing vehicles with increased firepower. This task can be solved both with the help of a reinforced gun of a larger caliber, and due to more advanced fire control systems. Automation of some operations will be an important part of the project. First of all, it is proposed to automate the supply of ammunition to the gun.
In the recent past, it was indicated that in 2017 or 2018, the KNDS holding will complete the development of the concept of a promising MGCS tank and only after that will it be able to start developing the project. There is reason to believe that this stage has already been completed, thanks to which the program can move to another stage, but there are no official reports on this matter. One way or another, if the formation of the appearance of the tank has not yet been completed, then it will have to end in the very near future. Perhaps the development company will not hide information about this and will announce the imminent start of design.
According to known data, the requirements for the MGCS project limit the combat mass of the tank to 60-65 tons. A further increase in this parameter can lead to a sharp drop in mobility and strategic mobility. At the same time, the reduction in weight can impose restrictions on survivability and fighting qualities. In addition, weight restrictions allow you to represent the approximate characteristics of the required power plant.
To obtain sufficient mobility, the French-German tank will have to have an engine with a capacity of about 1200-1500 hp. At the same time, the specific power of the machine will reach the level of 25 hp. per ton - optimal performance for a tank with the desired characteristics. Most likely, a diesel power plant will be used. Engines of this type are used both on the German Leopard-2 and on the French AMX-56 Leclerc.
Various methods of ensuring proper survivability, as well as their various combinations, were considered. Most likely, the MGCS tank will receive its own combined armor with protection characteristics no worse than that of modern German and French tanks. Armoring of the hull and turret can be supplemented with dynamic or active protection. Moreover, the use of such systems will require the implementation of additional projects.
In 2016, the Rheinmetall AG company, participating in the MGCS program as a weapons developer, presented a project of a smooth-bore tank gun with increased characteristics. To significantly increase the energy of the projectile, it was decided to use a 130 mm caliber. Also, as far as is known, the possibility of increasing the caliber of the gun to 140 mm was considered, but such a weapon, according to calculations, turned out to be excessively large and heavy for a promising tank. An increase in caliber by only 10 mm provides an almost 50% increase in muzzle energy with corresponding consequences for combat effectiveness.
Possible appearance of the future MGCS tank. Drawing by Rheinmetall AG
The gun of the French Leclerc tank is equipped with an automatic loader, while the German Leopard 2 has a separate crew member responsible for supplying ammunition to the gun. As follows from the news about the MGCS project, it is proposed to introduce the features of the French AMX-56 into the appearance of a promising tank. The designers plan to abandon the loader and replace it with automation. Taking into account the increased caliber, leading to an increase in the mass of shots, this decision looks logical and correct.
It should be noted that information about the automatic loader may be a transparent hint of the intention of the KNDS holding to create a full-fledged uninhabited tower. Such equipment is already used on promising Russian tanks and gives them certain positive features. It is possible that German and French engineers will show interest in the promising layout.
The MGCS main tank will need a modern fire control system capable of taking full advantage of the new larger caliber cannon. It will obviously include the commander's (panoramic) and gunner's sights with day and night channels. Perhaps the on-board computer will be able to receive target data from third-party sources and issue target designations to other tanks.
There is still no information about the additional armament of the future French-German tank. Apparently, according to the experience of existing projects, the combat vehicle will be equipped with a remotely controlled module with a rifle or large caliber machine gun. Also, a promising tank will borrow from modern set of smoke grenade launchers.
To date, the Mobile Ground Combat System program has not managed to advance further than work on the formation of a general concept. At the same time, there is already information about approaches to future design and production of finished units. So, in March last year, the head of the Main Directorate of Armaments of the French Ministry of Defense, Laurent Colle-Billon, said that in the medium term, a joint French-German tank would be adopted. Its chassis will be created by the German side, and the French program participants will develop a turret and fighting compartment. How such plans relate to the latest work of the Rheinmetall company in the field of tank guns is unknown.
With some knowledge of the plans for the MGCS project, you can make some predictions and preliminary conclusions. So, judging by the data already published, the new French-German tank will be a very interesting combat vehicle with high performance. It will combine sufficient mobility, a high level of protection and increased combat qualities. In general, after its appearance, this vehicle will be in the center of attention of the whole world, just like the Russian Armata tank is now.
Experienced 130mm tank gun from Rheinmetall. Photo Bmpd.livejournal.com
You can also imagine what problems the new project will face. It hardly needs to be reminded that the MGCS program is not the first attempt to create a "European" tank by the forces of several countries. Previous joint projects turned out to be quite successful from a technical point of view, but did not lead to the desired results. Due to discrepancies in a number of issues, the participants in such programs broke off cooperation and created the desired armored vehicles on their own.
It is not known whether the MGCS tank will be able to overcome all the problems and reach mass production with operation in the troops. The current situation with the development of the armed forces of large European states, as well as the presence of large bureaucratic structures that do not always make the right decisions, can complicate the path of armored vehicles in the army.
In the context of bureaucracy and administrative difficulties, it is worth considering the financial characteristics of the new project. While we are talking only about the modernization of existing tanks, the cost of work may remain acceptable. But a full-fledged new armored vehicle, built from scratch, will be much more expensive than a modernized Leclerc or Leopard. The price of a serial MGCS will probably reach several tens of millions of euros. Naturally, equipment at such a price will attract the attention of various structures and will be subject to fierce criticism.
According to current plans, the serial tanks of the Mobile Ground Combat System program will have to go to the troops no earlier than the end of the next decade. At the same time, such a technique is considered as a French-German response to the Russian T-14 tank. It is easy to see that in such a situation, the Russian armored vehicle has a big head start. Russian tank builders can use the existing gap of 10-12 years to create new versions of "Armata" with higher characteristics. Because of this, the KNDS holding may find itself in the position of catching up with no particular hopes for a radical change in the situation.
A promising French-German program for the modernization of existing tanks and the development of a completely new vehicle is of great interest. As follows from the known data, the MGCC project may face various difficulties and not lead to the desired results. Nevertheless, despite all possible failures and problems, this program must be monitored. It will show how foreign experts see the tank of the future, and in addition, it will demonstrate the real potential of European industry.
