Pistorius and Lecornu tour Rheinmetall manufacturing facility
On Thursday, Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) and his French counterpart, Sébastien Lecornu, will visit the Rheinmetall plant in Lower Saxony's Unterlüß at 11:30 a.m. The visit is centred around the Franco-German tank project MGCS ("Main Ground Combat System"), which aims to develop a networked next-generation land combat system.
The MGCS project is a strategic Franco-German cooperation targeting operational effectiveness and future battlefield needs. Rheinmetall, a major German defense company, is a key industrial participant alongside KNDS (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Nexter Defence Systems) in this effort.
While the specific MGCS program is ongoing, a related but distinct broader European initiative called Project MARTE (Main Armoured Tank of Europe) was launched in late 2024 and officially started in mid-2025. Coordinated by the joint venture MARTE ARGE, which includes Rheinmetall Landsysteme and KNDS Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, this project involves 51 entities across 12 countries and is supported by the European Defence Fund with about €20 million funding.
MARTE's goal is to conduct comprehensive design studies for a future European main battle tank that meets emerging threats and harmonizes the operational requirements of various European nations for enhanced strategic autonomy in defense.
During their visit, Ministers Pistorius and Lecornu will focus on the production of armored vehicles and the expansion of ammunition production at the Rheinmetall plant. The visit is expected to conclude with a joint press statement. Additionally, Sébastien Lecornu is scheduled to sign the Golden Book of the city of Osnabrück.
Following their visit to the Rheinmetall plant, the ministers will travel to Osnabrück for discussions on military cooperation and the situation in Ukraine. The discussions in Osnabrück are planned for a later date.
Rheinmetall, a significant player in the defense industry, is collaborating with KNDS in the ongoing MGCS project, a Franco-German joint venture aimed at developing a future-ready networked land combat system.
Beyond MGCS, Rheinmetall is also involved in Project MARTE, a broader European initiative focused on designing a harmonious main battle tank that caters to the operational needs of various European nations and addresses emerging threats, with a combined budget of approximately €20 million from the European Defense Fund.
