Italy was informally invited to the new European tank development

At a recent meeting in Corsica, France, Italy was informally invited by France to participate in the development of a new European tank known as the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS). This happened during an important meeting between Sébastien Lecorneux, the French Minister of Armed Forces, and Guido Crosetto, his Italian counterpart. Both dignitaries signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in the defense sector.

The French minister claimed that it was a logical step for Italy to be involved in the MGCS initiative, contributing to the development of future tanks and other types of combat vehicles. France’s desire to involve Italy in the project is not new. In August 2023, Paris took the lead in proposing that Italy would be an excellent addition to the existing team, which also included Germany. Leonardo, a leading Italian company, had even been recommended as the main Italian representative.

The French appreciation for Italy comes at a crucial moment when the momentum of the initiative needs to be recalibrated. It is known that France was previously the most vocal opponent of other countries that had joined the MGCS initiative. Poland serves as a good example, having expressed interest in becoming a major partner years ago. However, the progress of the Polish defense industry was not well received by France and Germany.

‘The problem’ leopard

Over the past year, largely due to the ongoing unrest in Ukraine, there has been a significant shift in sentiment toward the MGCS as a long-term project. In particular, France has expressed concern that the German Leopard tank could overshadow the MGCS initiative. Indications of these concerns are evident in the continued development and acquisition of Leopard’s latest model, the 2A8, which is based on the Hungarian 2A7HU variant.

The French invitation to Italy could indicate that Paris is trying to maintain a balance in its relations with Berlin. However, it remains uncertain whether Italy would agree to such cooperation if Germany were to accept the proposal. As previously reported by BulgarianMilitary.com, Italy recently decided to purchase over a hundred Leopard 2A8 tanks and may consider including these tanks in their national defense strategy.

Significantly, Italy has shown an early interest in the Leopard 2A8, becoming the first country to express its intention to purchase a significant quantity of this model. This step could potentially lead to local production. In particular, sources from Italy have suggested that La Spezia could become a major hub for the production of the Italian variant, the Leopard 2A8IT.

France and Italy

In the past, France and Italy have reaped the benefits of their joint efforts on several large-scale projects. These include the Horizon-class destroyers, FREMM frigates and the SAMP-T long-range air defense system. Likewise, their collaboration extends to the domain of space travel, where they have witnessed shared triumphs through their efforts with companies such as Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space.

Nevertheless, France prefers the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) over the Leopard 2A8. This preference stems from France’s more substantial investment in the MGCS project and the subsequent delay in the evolution and modernization of their domestic Leclerc tank. The question then arises: could the ‘informal’ invitation from Paris to Rome be a backup strategy by France if Berlin decided to increase their focus on their main homegrown tanks, namely the Leopard 2A8 and Rheinmetall Panther KF51? This could potentially negate the development of a third tank, the MGCS.

One cannot overlook the agreement signed between France and Germany on April 26. It marks the ceremonial start of the next phase of development for the Franco-German MGCS tank and underlines the important role these countries play in the international defense landscape.

Tanks in the Italian army

The backbone of the Italian armed forces is defined by a selection of tanks, with the Ariete taking center stage as the main battle tank. Known for its advanced armor and powerful firepower, this modern powerhouse is a testament to Italian innovation. Since it first appeared in the late 1990s, it has played a crucial role in various international peacekeeping efforts.

The German-designed Leopard 1A5, the next in line as a secondary main battle tank, has been part of the Italian army since the 1970s. Continuous improvements over the years have greatly increased its effectiveness on the battlefield.

However, the Italian military does not rely solely on battle tanks. They also command the agile Centauro, a wheeled tank destroyer. In addition, they possess the Dardo, a lighter tank that has priority for infantry support. Equipped with an imposing 25mm autocannon and powerful anti-tank missiles, the Dardo is designed to transport troops safely to and across the battlefield.

The Italian Army’s arsenal is completed by the Freccia, an infantry fighting vehicle similar to the Dardo, but with a design based on the Centauro. Equipped with a 25mm autocannon, it provides safe transport for an infantry unit to combat zones.

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