Thales is leading a newly inaugurated European initiative, the Technologies for Existing and Future Main Battle Tanks (FMBTech), which aims to overhaul main battle tanks (MBTs) for the demands of modern hybrid combat scenarios.
The collaboration incorporates a network of 26 entities from 14 nations, including 13 European Union (EU) members and Norway.
Some notable companies in the FMBTech project include Arquus, Hensoldt France, GMV Aerospace and Defence, MBDA France, and KNDS.
The 26 entities also include eight small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and seven research and technology organisations (RTOs).
The European Commission selected FMBTech for funding through the European Defence Fund (EDF) in 2023. The project has been endowed with a budget of €19m ($21.6m) to fulfil its objectives.
FMBTech aims to bolster the operational performance, security, and economic efficiency of both current and prospective MBTs. This ensures their continued strategic importance on the battlefield while transitioning towards next-generation capabilities.
With financial backing from the EDF and contributions from the consortium members, this three-year programme is set to create modular and adaptable technologies for MBTs.
The project’s objective is to leverage novel technological modules to cultivate a new generation of agile, intelligent, and collaborative MBTs that can overcome the challenges posed by ageing military fleets across the EU and Norway.
The initiative will focus on transforming the MBT into the nucleus of a digitised capabilities envelope.
This will enable enhanced interfacing with uncrewed systems and improve crew efficiency through the integration of AI.
Thales stated that “FMBTech positions the EU at the forefront of advanced, cutting-edge defence technologies, reinforcing military innovation and collaboration within European defence”.
This development follows the progress of the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System programme, which recently celebrated the formation of the MGCS Project Company (MPC) in Cologne, Germany.
The MPC’s ownership is equally divided among its four signatories—KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, and Thales—each holding a 25% share.
