Thats what i would expect the most, so that the nato compatibility stays the same. Alone for logistic reason as well as possible export.
Leo 3/ ax or however you call it always is just supposed to be an interim vehicle as well.
It cant replace the mgcs.
While the leo hull is fantastic, we need a overhaul and newly developed one to keep up with the times.
You dont seem to be aware yet, but both
France and germany both started seperate projects besides the mgcs as well
As a even further interim until mgcs.
There is the Marte (main armored tank of europe )project made by rheinemtall and knds germany, which i personaly expect to fuse with leo 3.
And the french FMBTech .
Of course depending how it goes those just might completly replace the mgcs as well.
The French DGA isn’t actively coordinating development or wanting to spend money for an interim tank as of now. They will however in the coming weeks/months propose different plans to maybe introduce interim tanks before MGCS, but army generals are very against it, afraid that this would cost too much and cause the MGCS development to be cut down or delayed too much. They also can’t afford to keep the Leclerc till after 2040 because the power unit will be un maintainable by that time (since production is basically stopped for the engine and they are scrapping from out of service Leclercs)
Apparently, a few ideas will be proposed, among them the main one would potentially be with KNDS having a central role.
Maybe we could expect the French to go for some EMBT derivative, with a Leo hull and an improved Leclerc turret, but I truly don’t know.
There’s still independent development, such as Nexter’s Leclerc EVO which might be somewhat equivalent to a Leo 2A8/3 in principle, but the DGA has not shown any interest in it.
Edit : I would also not put too much faith in the FMBtech project. It’s lead by Thales, which while a very high tech company, is not know for making armored systems.
A lot of it will be influenced by the fcas project.
Dassault is not making any Fans and straining the relations.
Germany isnt to dependend on fcas.
We can start others with sweden, spain or maybe even join british/italian/japanese programm.
But french mbt development will take a even worse split /result if that happens.
Germany is the main supplier for european tanks.
No matter if its kmw or rheinmetall
I think it’s a lot more dependent than you think.
Germany alone doesn’t have the full industrial capabilities to produce an entire aircraft locally (in a decent timeframe and non finite budget). In the other hand, France does (tho economically it’s be a huge burden especially with their other massive projects in parallel such as the new aircraft carrier). It’s also very unlikely to join the TEMPEST program since Britain made it clear they would only be allowed to join as observers, not participants. This leaves new cooperation with Sweden and Spain for example, which would help a lot in the development but those countries don’t completely complement the German capabilities. There would still be deficiencies in the power unit - at least safran clearly states that MTU is not currently capable of producing a next gen engine (information you can take at face value) (edit : this is visibly due to NDA MTU has with their British partner on the EFT program) - and the radar, where it seems an important portion of the EFT development was done by UK, Italy, Spain.
I would actually go as far to say that purely in industrial capabilities (not mentioning economics), Germany is as dependent on the FCAS on France as France is dependent on the MGCS in Germany (since they don’t produce their own power units for tanks since the end of the Leclerc production, and the company was sold to Wassila which is a Nordic company iirc)
Never said they don’t either. I’m simply stating that as far as their combined industrial capabilities go, they still have pretty large deficiencies when it come to producing certain specific and vital components of a jet fighter. And I don’t think either country would go around buying US equipment, like Sweden does for the engine of the gripes.
Now if Germany joins GCAP (I didn’t know about theses changes from the UK), they still would have the problem of not really having many say on fundamental design choices, since I don’t expect the whole program to go through earlier phases of development, which considering the EFT program, would be unlike them to accept (France wasn’t the only country with very specific requirements at that time)
Tbh i dont really see how joining GCAP would solve Germanys workshare issues with FCAS. I dont think UK/ITA/JAP would be willing to waive their own already negotiated workshare and the general progress just to accomodate Germany.
I have no idea at this point. I’ve read customer only, observer only, neither, the whole vagueness makes me believe that both sides know it’s actually not happening but acting like it could makes GCAP look good and puts pressure on France
Eh hard to say, I’ve only unlocked France top tier about a month ago. The Leclercs seem decent, the only thing that really grinds my gears is being shot in the breech, because theres a 90% chance that the round or spall penetrates the Blast door and blows you up. But giving the higher ones shard or something probably wouldn’t hurt however I’m not sure if France top tier needs a buff atm.
Plenty of that’s came and gone in game.
Hell some vehicles don’t even get their ammo just cause.
Firefly comes to mind.
German doesn’t get the more advanced rounds either.
They’re not bad, decent all rounders. I kinda stopped using them in favour of the MSC at a lower BR tbh.
The breach on them is a pain same with the fuel tanks cause of how the armours incorrectly implemented.
I’d say so, the issue is it does generally have a pretty decent player base so it tends to overperform for what it is.
hence why theres the likes of the char 25T at 8.0, I’ve not seen one in years now.
Reckon italy could do with some attention, as well as all trees some more decompression.
Eh, now it’s actually been tested, even if I don’t think there’s been footage of the Leclerc specifically testing it (?).
I do think a new round for the Leclerc is needed, and has been for a while.
That and the report for IRIS thermal to go from 2nd gen to 3rd gen would be appreciated. In game the IRIS is classified as 2nd gen cause that’s what the French called it (cause of the wavelength it operates on iirc), but IRL its performances are, according to a report, closer to 3rd gen. While somewhat minor, it’d be interesting.
Also, at some point, in parallel to the development of SHARD there was mention of a multipurpose round similar to the US one, HEAT, shrapnel and proxy fuze all in one shell. If it does exist, it would be nice to see. I think it was proposed to come with XLR. If this and the lock on air targets (report was bullshit either way I don’t know how it passed and even got implemented) is added back the Leclerc (XLR) would actually be good