Creating a next-generation main battle tank that has sometimes been called the Leopard 3 will be a difficult task that will certainly take plenty of time, according to Majumdar.
He said that in the short- to medium-term, Germany will have to upgrade the already-existing Leopard 2A7 (+) so as to counter Russia's next-generation T-14 Armata main battle tank.
"In the longer term, Germany recognizes that it will have to replace the Leopard 2 with a new design for the 2030s and beyond," Majumdar said.
He added that Berlin has already started developing the next-generation Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) in cooperation with France, and that "the concept development phase should be completed by 2017."
T-14 Armata🇷🇺 #УВЗ pic.twitter.com/QKrImNKsd3
— ★CSKA RU★[RUS］BF4㍑ (@CSKA_RU_BF4) 10 февраля 2016
According to Majumdar, the MGCS's main focus on increased firepower is directly being driven by Russia's Armata program, a fact that Majumdar said can easily be explained.
"Simply put, the Armata series armored vehicles —particularly with their focus on active protection systems (APS) — are forcing Western designers to focus on more direct fire weapons.
t 14 armata. russia pic.twitter.com/wzzhIab8aF
— sid_o (@sid_ah_ouz) 9 февраля 2016
Majumdar concluded by expressing doubt about Berlin's drive to successfully complete the program to create a next-generation battle tank.
"While Germany has traditionally been a leader in armored warfare, Berlin has neglected the Bundeswehr in recent years. Only time will tell if Germany is successful in its plans," Majumdar pointed out.
Russia's T-14 Armata Main Battle Tank is touted as probably the world's deadliest armored fighting vehicle. The key feature of the tank is its unmanned remotely-controlled turret, crew members are seated in an armored capsule at the front of the tank's hull.
The T-14 will also carry a 30-mm sub-caliber gun to shoot down low-flying aerial targets, including planes and helicopters. To defend against incoming anti-tank missiles, the T-14 will have a 12.5 mm turret-mounted heavy machine gun.
To finish all of that, the tank has fully automated ammunition loading and computerized targeting systems. Despite all the guns and computerized technology built into the armored vehicle, the menacing tank only needs two servicemen to operate it.
