European countries are seriously considering the development of their armored vehicle fleets using hybrid platforms. One option is the MGCS, a joint venture between Germany and France. These are armored vehicles with a hybrid powertrain integrated with an artificial intelligence system.
Western experts note that the European program to develop next-generation tanks and armored vehicles plans a major mobility upgrade through a new hybrid powertrain designed to improve performance, efficiency, and maneuverability on the battlefield.
This powertrain is based on a newly developed 10-cylinder Rolls-Royce engine, based on the MTU Series 199 diesel engine and claimed to be optimized for extreme load fluctuations and harsh operating conditions.
From the official presentation:
The new engine configuration provides improved combustion characteristics, increased power density, and higher thermal efficiency in line with the requirements of the Main Land Combat System for Europe (MGCS) initiative.
The hybrid engine produces 1,495 hp. It incorporates modern electronic control systems and a fuel injection system. Moreover, the fuel can vary, including low-quality (by modern Western standards) fuel. Given the sharp rise in oil prices, this is presumably especially relevant for Germany and France…
The hybrid tanks and armored fighting vehicles are equipped with an electrified transmission with hydraulic power steering from the German company ZF Group. It utilizes energy recovery to improve energy efficiency.
The MGCS program, as noted above, is a joint German-French project aimed at replacing Leopard 2 and Leclerc tanks, as well as armored vehicles based on them.
The cost of the project and the entire program has not yet been officially announced. This is perhaps also because the current trend is for the final cost to be significantly higher than the planned and officially approved one.
