European Industrial Land Hub: France & Italy Seek to Integrate Defence Industries

Italy and France have committed to closer integration of their land warfare firms as Italy endeavors to join the long-awaited Franco-German tank program – the European Industrial Land Hub.

A letter of intent, signed in Corsica by the defence ministers of both countries, outlines plans for the establishment of a “European industrial land hub,” fostering collaboration between businesses from Italy and France.

Guido Crosetto, the Italian Defence Minister, emphasised the importance of consolidating European technologies, stating that united efforts are essential to counter China’s advancements.

Crosetto’s sentiments were echoed by Sébastien Lecornu, the French Armed Forces Minister, who co-signed the letter.

The agreement specifically identifies the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) as a focal point for joint efforts.

The MGCS tank program, a collaborative endeavour between France and Germany, received a significant boost on April 26th when the two nations finalized an industrial work-share pact.

Germany is poised to award contracts for the first demonstrator phase by year-end.

Seeking entry into this program, Italy previously signed a cooperation action plan with Germany in November, which outlined potential collaboration on the MGCS project.

Further cementing ties, a comprehensive cooperation agreement inked in December between Italian defence firm Leonardo and the European consortium KNDS also cited collaboration on the MGCS initiative.

This agreement also encompassed Italy’s procurement of Leopard tanks.

KNDS, comprising Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and France’s Nexter, stands as a pivotal player in this partnership.

According to Alessandro Marrone, head of the defence program at the Italian think tank IAI, Italy had contemplated participation in MGCS two years ago, but faced limited engagement from France and Germany.

Marrone notes that the recent agreements with France and Germany reflect a concerted effort to integrate Italy into MGCS.

However, he highlights the necessity of a trilateral agreement to secure Italy’s position in the program.

The Italy-German action plan additionally outlined cooperation on a new €5 billion (U.S. $5.4 billion) Italian program, formerly known as AICS and now renamed A2CS, aimed at producing up to 1,000 infantry fighting vehicles.

In February, Italy’s procurement office tasked CIO, involving Leonardo and local vehicle-maker Iveco, with conducting a feasibility study for the new vehicle.

Progress on this platform is currently underway, with CIO slated to enlist partner firms to aid in the study.

Overall, the collaboration between Italy and France marks a strategic alignment in the realm of land warfare, driven by shared objectives of technological advancement and regional security.

The establishment of a European industrial land hub underscores the commitment to harnessing the collective strengths of European nations to maintain competitiveness in the face of global challenges.

As efforts continue to deepen cooperation and integrate capabilities, the Franco-German MGCS program stands as a prominent example of cross-border collaboration shaping the future of defence technology in Europe.

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