The European Union has outlined preliminary requirements for a new main battle tank, with a tender for prototype design and development expected to be launched as early as this year

At present, one tank demonstrator appears to align most closely with these criteria: the Leopard 2 A-RC, featuring an unmanned turret and unveiled in the summer of 2024. It includes a dedicated weapon module, fits within the stated dimensional limits, has a combat weight of up to 60 tons, and a height of just 2.44 meters.

While it does not perfectly meet all the outlined requirements, it arguably has the strongest starting position in a future tender. At the same time, Rheinmetall’s KF51 Panther could emerge as a serious competitor. French industry may also present a candidate, as France is eager to replace the Leclerc, although it has unfortunately lost much of its full-scale domestic tank-building capability.