A German chassis and a French gun: the new battle tank unveiled on Monday at the Eurosatory defence industry exhibition exemplifies the possibilities of strategic partnership between Paris and Berlin. Franco-German defence group KNDS unveiled its tank in a stopgap move to replace the French army’s ageing Leclerc ​fleet as ‌France and Germany’s joint project to develop a next-generation tank faces delays. The ⁠growing threat from Russia, coupled with US President Donald Trump’s increasing reluctance to back Europe’s defence, has European governments scrambling ‌to step up their military capacity. European collaboration on defence production, however, is facing challenges. KNDS’s ⁠launch of the new tank at the Eurosatory defence industry exhibition near Paris follows a decision by France and Germany last week to drop their ​joint FCAS fighter jet programme following months of disagreements between Airbus and Dassault ‌Aviation. Watch moreEnd of FCAS 'flagship project' marks setback for Franco-German cooperation and European defence KNDS said the tank – named CAPINT for “intermediary capability” – combines a chassis produced by KNDS's German division and a tank gun made by its French division. It aims to strengthen French Army capabilities, ‌the company said, and will “pave the way” for the Franco-German next-generation MGCS, or Main Ground Combat System. Initiated in 2017, the MGCS is intended to replace Germany’s Leopard 2 and France’s Leclerc tanks, with entry into service initially targeted for 2040 to 2045.