Franco‑German tank and artillery projects face cost overruns and timeline delays

France’s defence chief Patrick Pailloux said the MGCS next‑generation tank programme remains a long‑term research project, but industrial offers are “too expensive” and negotiations on future phases are ongoing. A new interim tank, the Capint, is slated to replace the Leclerc by 2035, while the cancellation of the joint combat‑air‑craft project Scaf was described as “not the end of the world” for French aerospace.

At the same EuroSatory show, the Franco‑German consortium KNDS unveiled the Long‑Range Artillery System (LORAS). LORAS is designed to succeed the CAESAr, PzH2000 and RCH155, featuring a 155 mm/58‑calibre gun capable of hitting targets up to 60 km (up to 100 km with special rounds) at eight shots per minute. The system is promoted as a cost‑effective alternative to missiles, leveraging lessons from the Ukraine war.