Cologne’s Transformation: The Dawn of MGCS Project Company GmbH
The next significant achievement has now been realized in the Franco-German defense collaboration, known as the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS). Following the approval from the German Federal Cartel Office, KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, and Thales formally founded the ‘MGCS Project Company GmbH’ on 10 April 2025 in Cologne. Dipl. Ing. Dipl. Wirt. Ing. and Colonel (G.S. German Army Reserve) Stefan Gramolla has been appointed as the managing director.
The formation of this company represents another vital progress in the MGCS venture. After the forthcoming negotiation of a contract with the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw), which acts on behalf of both nations through a Franco-German Combined Project Team (CPT), this project company will spearhead the implementation of the upcoming phase of the MGCS program as the chief industrial contractor. Specifically, it will enhance the concept and the fundamental technological underpinnings of the system.
Launched by the French and German governments, the MGCS initiative aims to replace the Leopard 2 and Leclerc main battle tanks with a flexible ground combat solution by 2040.
