Spain plans to join European battle tank program to secure future armored capabilities.

Spain is accelerating its push to join Europe's most ambitious armored warfare initiative, the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), with the goal of securing its place in the future of land combat capabilities. According to information published by Infodefensa.com on June 19, 2025, Secretary of State for Defense Amparo Valcarce confirmed during the Paris Air Show that while Spain is not yet a formal member of the MGCS program, it is already contributing to several technical areas and is preparing to join officially “at the appropriate time.” This declaration reflects a sustained commitment first made public at the Eurosatory defense exhibition in 2024 and forms part of a broader strategic plan to modernize Spain’s armed forces and defense industry.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

MGCS represents a fundamental shift in the architecture of European land combat systems, transitioning from traditional main battle tanks to an integrated, multi-domain warfare platform (Picture source: MGCS)

MGCS represents a fundamental shift in the architecture of European land combat systems, transitioning from traditional main battle tanks to an integrated, multi-domain warfare platform. For Spain, joining the program is driven by multiple strategic priorities: ensuring the replacement of its Leopard 2E fleet by 2040, securing a share of high-value European defense contracts, and reinforcing its role within NATO and EU defense frameworks. Participation also allows Spain to shape the development of future armored doctrines while safeguarding national sovereignty over critical technologies. MGCS will serve as a technological and operational foundation for European ground forces for decades, and Spain’s involvement would guarantee early access to cutting-edge capabilities such as autonomous systems, AI-enhanced command structures, and next-generation firepower. It also secures long-term industrial participation in high-value defense programs, supporting Spain’s economic, technological, and strategic sovereignty.

The program, formally known as the Main Ground Combat System, is a collaborative effort between KNDS, comprising Nexter of France and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann of Germany, alongside Rheinmetall and Thales. It aims to replace the Leopard 2 and Leclerc main battle tanks by 2040 with a highly advanced, modular, and digitalized “system of systems.” The envisioned platform will include manned tanks, autonomous support vehicles, advanced AI-driven command networks, active protection systems, and next-generation firepower featuring competing 130 mm and 140 mm gun technologies. Spain’s early involvement in collateral systems could pave the way for deeper integration into these critical technological pillars.

Spain’s decision to pursue MGCS participation builds on a rich legacy of armored capabilities. From the AMX-30E co-developed with France to the Leopard 2A4 tanks acquired from Germany in the late 1990s, Spain has progressively aligned its armored doctrine with NATO standards. This culminated in the Leopard 2E, a domestically manufactured version incorporating national components such as improved fire control systems and enhanced armor, produced by Santa Bárbara Sistemas in Seville. Despite its high performance, the Leopard 2E is now facing obsolescence in the face of modern battlefield requirements, prompting Madrid to seek alignment with next-generation systems.

To that end, the 2025 Technological and Industrial Plan for Security and Defense includes a dedicated modernization line (referred to as the Superior Land Combat System) with an initial allocation of €5 million. Though only briefly described, this initiative is clearly structured to support Spain’s integration into the MGCS and to contribute to the eventual replacement of both the Leclerc and Leopard platforms by 2040. It forms part of a broader set of 31 modernization programs, which also include the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) and the European Corvette, in which Spain is already a full partner.

The strategic scope of the European battle tank program is expanding beyond its Franco-German core. While France and Germany remain the principal stakeholders, additional European countries have shown increasing interest in joining or supporting the initiative. Italy has been officially recognized as an observer and is aligning its industrial base through the acquisition of Leopard 2A8 tanks, facilitating potential MGCS integration. Sweden and the United Kingdom, both of whom requested observer status in 2021, continue to monitor the program closely as they evaluate options for their own armored modernization. Belgium, like Spain, is now actively exploring entry as part of a broader rearmament policy and national defense revival. The inclusion of these countries underscores MGCS’s growing role as the cornerstone of Europe’s future armored forces and highlights the geopolitical and industrial significance of Spain’s bid to join the project.

Spain’s strategic alignment with MGCS also complements its broader focus on cybersecurity and digital modernization across the defense sector. The national plan allocates over €1 billion to strengthen secure communications, enhance resilience against cyber threats, and develop capabilities in information warfare. These areas are critical to MGCS, which will rely on AI-driven command systems, real-time data integration, and sophisticated electronic countermeasures. By advancing its industrial and technological base, Spain is preparing not only to maintain a cutting-edge armored force but also to become a central contributor to Europe’s defense autonomy and operational dominance.