Technologies for Existing and Future Main Battle Tanks project officially launched
Peter Felstead
The European Commission-funded Technologies for Existing and Future Main Battle Tanks (FMBTech) project has been officially launched, Thales, which is co-ordinating the effort, announced on 22 April 2025.
The initiative, which brings together a consortium of 26 companies from 13 European Union (EU) member states plus Norway, “aims to revolutionise main battle tanks (MBTs) for modern hybrid warfare”, Thales stated.
The three-year FMBTech project will develop modular and adaptable solutions to ensure readiness for diverse and complex battlefields. By using innovative technology ‘bricks’, the project aims to build a future fleet of agile, intelligent and co-operative MBTs to address the limitations of ageing MBT inventories in the EU and Norway.
The FMBTech project was selected by the European Commission for funding under the European Defence Fund (EDF) in 2023 and has been allocated a total budget of EUR 19 million.
According to Thales, FMBTech “positions the EU at the forefront of advanced, cutting-edge defence technologies, reinforcing military innovation and
collaboration within European defence”, adding that the project “will enhance the effectiveness, safety, and cost-efficiency of both existing and future MBTs, ensuring they remain pivotal assets on the battlefield while bridging the gap to emerging fifth-generation capabilities”.
The launch of the FMBTech project follows the announcement that KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall Landsysteme and Thales legally incorporated the ‘MGCS Project Company GmbH’ on 10 April 2025 as the next step in progressing the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System programme.
The MGCS project aims to replace the Germany’s Leopard 2 and France’s Leclerc MBTs by 2040 with a multi-platform ground combat system solution incorporating both manned and unmanned vehicles.
- Thales Six GTS France (France)
- Arquus (France)
- C&V Consulting (Belgium)
- CY4GATE (Italy)
- Environics (Finland)
- Eight Bells Hellas (Greece)
- GMV Aerospace and Defence (Spain)
- Guardiaris Racunalniske Aplikacije in Simulacije (Slovenia)
- Hensoldt France (France)
- ISD Aerospace (Ireland)
- MBDA France (France)
- MSM Land Systems (Slovakia)
- KNDS France (France)
- Ośrodek Badawczo-rozwojowy Urządzeń Mechanicznych Obrum (Poland)
- Politecnico di Milano (Italy)
- Safran Electronics & Defense (France)
- Savox Communications (Finland)
- Scertas (Germany)
- Skyld Security and Defence (Cyprus)
- Sopra Steria (Norway)
- Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT (Finland)
- Thales Italia (Italy)
- Vetronics Research Centre (Cyprus)
- Vojenský Výzkumný Ústav (Czech Republic)
- Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna im Jaroslawa Dabrowskiego (Poland)
- Wojskowy Instytut Techniki Pancernej i Samochodowej (Poland)
