At Eurosatory 2024, the European defence company KNDS was prominent as it unveiled its latest technological demonstrator, the Enhanced Main Battle Tank (EMBT). This unveiling was accompanied by the presentation of KNDS’s Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0 and Leclerc Evolution MBTs, which are being considered as potential interim upgrades for the French and German armies ahead of the anticipated deployment of the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) in 2035.
The EMBT boasts a range of innovative features, including an upgraded Leopard chassis with a shortened engine for increased interior space, KNDS’s new EMBT-ADT 140 uncrewed turret, the 140mm Ascalon gun, ARX30 30mm x 113mm remote controlled weapon station, and the Prometheus active protection system from the French Ministry of Defense.
Significantly, the EMBT also includes KNDS’s AI-enabled “SAFE” fire control system, specifically designed to assist in the autonomous selection and queuing of weapon systems on the platform for efficient target engagement based on priority. The company plans to equip every vehicle in the future MGCS fleet with the SAFE software, which can also be interconnected with other assets across different domains.
Moreover, the company spokesperson highlighted that the SAFE system would ensure human oversight during firing missions, following successful non-kinetic field tests conducted in collaboration with the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) in June.
In contrast to the Leclerc Evolution and Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0, the EMBT only requires a crew of three personnel instead of four. KNDS envisions integrating future technologies such as sensor fusion, active protection, AI, cyber, and hybrid energy applications into the turret demonstrator.
Looking forward, KNDS has planned live fire on-the-move trials for the Ascalon Demonstrator Turret (ADT 140) in 2025, a significant development in the EMBT’s progression.
At Eurosatory, Rheinmetall also introduced its Concept Unmanned Turret (CUT) for the Panther KF51 MBT, proposing it as an interim solution should the MGCS be delayed. Additionally, an agreement was reached between KNDS France, KNDS Germany, Rheinmetall, and Thales to establish a joint project company in pursuit of the MGCS program. The agreement aims to ensure a fair distribution of work between French and German industrial partners within the program, with a proposed contract signing in 2025.
In a separate update, it was revealed that discussions between Italian company Leonardo and KNDS regarding cooperation in the joint development and production of Leopard 2A8 MBTs, as well as collaboration on the MGCS, have been terminated.