Paris, France - January 23, 2025 Paris (France), Jan 23 (EFE) — French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius signed an agreement in Paris this Thursday marking the transition to the "industrial phase" of their future tank system project, with Spain expressing its intent to join. (Camera: Edgar Sapiña Manchado.) Images of the meeting between French and German Defense Ministers Sébastien Lecornu and Boris Pistorius, where they sealed several bilateral agreements at the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris. Statements from Sébastien Lecornu and Boris Pistorius. Translation: Sébastien Lecornu: 1. "Today, the bilateral meeting allowed us to accomplish several things. Right now, the important and anticipated signing of the industrial phase of the MGCS project, the armored cavalry project. We had signed it ourselves a few months ago, last March. The teams have worked well since then, allowing the industries here to form the specific company that will begin phase 1a of MGCS". 2. "The bilateral interview also allowed us to outline a methodology for 2025 for the SCAF, the Future Combat Aircraft Project, clearly integrating our Spanish friends because we know that by the end of the year, decisions will need to be made regarding phase 2." Boris Pistorius: 1. "Dear Sebastien, I also want to thank you for your recent intervention at a moment when otherwise, we might have been delayed a bit. Thank you very much. That is why the path is now clear for a joint venture for the project with the four involved groups. It is and will be the only central and important point of contact to close the subcontracts". 2. "This is an important milestone in this great project. Everyone involved wants to move the project forward, and that has once again become clear. We are building the future land combat system. Sébastien, thank you once again for your commitment to this project, which is also particularly important for both of us with the European perspective, for what Germany and France can achieve in the coming years." [Restrictions: Spain, Latin America, or the U.S. Hispanic market]