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France and Germany to develop next-generation battle tank equipped with artificial intelligence and laser technology, billed as a game changer in modern warfare (www.france24.com)

submitted 1 year ago by 0x815@feddit.de to c/europe@feddit.de

11 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The defence ministers of France and Germany, Sebastien Lecornu and Boris Pistorius, signed a memorandum of understanding that seals a 50-50 split in the industrial production of an advanced battle tank dubbed the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS).

The push to move ahead with the project comes as Berlin and Paris are eager to show unity after a series of spats on how to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.

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[–] Ziggurat@sh.itjust.works 29 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Great news, let's hope that both the next generation tank and the next generation plane will work. Unfortunately, we need some weapon, and I am rather having a sovereign weapon industry than buying them to a foreign power.

I am curious about how much the AI and laser techology are a buzz word rather than a new technology. I can't imagine modern tank not using laser to measure distances or having any form of image/data processing software

[–] CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Seeing the impact drone warfare has on Ukraine battlefields, I can imagine lasesrs being used as drone defense systems. Many drones have sensor equipment near their front that can be interfered by lasers which is easier than shooting down the drone with conventional AA fire.

Regarding AI and how much aiming weapons is computerized nowadays... Yeah, I'd guess AI is a publicity thing here.

[–] RidderSport@feddit.de 5 points 1 year ago

As for laser tech, there's an in-depth video by Perun on youtube on the topic. Tldr. Germany is already invested and has a few systems in trial phase

[–] zakobjoa@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

LePard

[–] Badeendje@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

That would be an excellent name

[–] Bjornir@programming.dev 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah sure, until Germany announces that they will use US technology, like they did for the last 3 or 4 joint military industrial projects with France.

[–] RidderSport@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago

Which ones do you mean exactly? I can only think of the F35, though I believe there was no project finalised

[–] Landsharkgun@midwest.social 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Given how war has been trending, you're better off building a bunch of cheap missiles/drones. And one guy with a .45 just in case.

[–] Pilgrim@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, tanks have mostly been big juicy targets in Ukraine so far. I guess if you had complete air superiority you could defend them better against drones but it seems like a losing battle to try and gain that kind of completely clear sky when a four man team can put up a UAV and detrack a tank at any point within a few km

[–] aluminium@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

and it will cost half of our defense budget to build one and the other one to maintain it for a year. Moving on…

[–] RidderSport@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago

You can bet that it will be open for sale for other NATO members. And they will be interested in a new gen tank