At a ceremony in Paris, KNDS and Rheinmetall presented new concepts for next-generation battle tanks. KNDS unveiled the Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0, featuring a movable main gun and weight savings of 10%. Engineers hope to achieve this through a new gun design that enables the relocation of the crew deeper into the chassis. KNDS plans to unveil a fully functioning demonstrator at Eurosatory in 2026.
Meanwhile, KNDS presented a development version of the French Leclerc tank fitted with a 120mm Ascalon gun. Rheinmetall introduced an unmanned turret concept, providing 25 “ready rounds” for the 130mm main gun. Both companies are aware of the fluid schedule of the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System and the potential market for hundreds of main battle tanks in the next 10 to 15 years.
The Leclerc Evolution tank and the Rheinmetall unmanned turret concept offer innovative features aimed at transforming European armed forces. The companies hope to find buyers for their designs and compete in the evolving defense market, showcasing the continuous evolution of tank technology at the Eurosatory arms show in Paris.
