France to increase defense spending by $42 billion, mulls new tank effort
"We need an interim tank, that is likely going to be a KNDS Germany or KNDS France platform," said French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin.
"We need an interim tank, that is likely going to be a KNDS Germany or KNDS France platform," said French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin.
Featuring an upgraded Leopard chassis with shortened engine to increase space inside the vehicle’s compartment, EMBT features KNDS’s new EMBT-ADT 140 uncrewed turret, which includes the 140mm Ascalon gun.
“The experiences from recent crises and wars, in addition to the obvious postponement of the main Ground Combat System Program, creates the necessity to set up an additional medium-term solution,” said Rheinmetall’s Bjoern Bernhard.
“The parties did not manage to agree on [Leopard] configuration and consequently, talks about Leonardo’s strategic participation in KNDS have also fallen short,” Frank Haun, CEO of KNDS NV, said in a company statement.
The future company will commit to a 50/50 workshare split between French and German manufacturers, supported by an “innovative ‘level-pillar approach,’” said manufacturer KNDS.