A joint venture between KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall Landsysteme has launched Europe’s next-generation main battle tank program to boost the continent’s strategic defense autonomy.
The initiative, dubbed the Main ARmoured Tank of Europe (MARTE), was launched following a 20-million-euro ($24-million) grant from the European Defence Fund.
The joint venture, called MARTE ARGE, comprises 51 organizations from 12 European countries, including major defense firms, research institutions, and small- and medium-sized enterprises.
The project is also supported by 11 European ministries of defense (MoDs), which are expected to be future customers.
Led by Germany’s MoD, the supporting countries include Belgium, Spain, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, and Sweden.
Future Tank Project
The MARTE program will focus on conceptual and design work for a main battle tank that meets evolving operational threats while aligning requirements across participating states.
The platform will integrate emerging and disruptive technologies, incorporating lessons learned from recent conflicts.
MARTE ARGE will manage the program with support from consulting firm Erdyn and a core team of five defense companies: KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall Landsysteme (Germany), Leonardo (Italy), Indra Sistemas (Spain), and Saab (Sweden).
Each company will lead one of the five technical work packages.
Other European Tank Projects
The effort follows a broader European initiative to modernize armored vehicle capabilities, called the Technologies for Existing and Future Main Battle Tanks (FMBTech) project.
Led by Thales, FMBTech involves 26 companies from 13 EU member states and Norway, and is also funded by the European Defence Fund.
Separately, a Franco-German joint program is underway to replace the German Leopard 2 and French Leclerc main battle tanks.
In January, KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, and Thales formed a joint venture for that program, known as the Main Ground Combat System.
Notably, Germany’s KNDS and Rheinmetall are leading the MARTE project with no French participation.
