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Leclerc tank

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Leclerc
Leclerc tank during military exercise
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service1992–present
WarsYemeni Civil War (2015–present)[1]
Production history
Designed1983–1989
ManufacturerNexter
Unit cost€16 million (FY2022)[2]
Produced1990–2008 (The last unit was produced in 2007 and the production line was closed, although Nexter retains the capability to build more if there is a need)
No.built≈862
Specifications
Mass
  • Series 1:54.5 tonnes[3]
  • Series 2:56.3 tonnes
  • Series XXI:57.4 tonnes[4]
Length9.87 m (6.88 without gun[3])
Width3.60 m[3]
Height2.53 m[3]
Crew3[3](Commander, gunner, driver)
Armourmodular composite armor
SXXIversion include titanium and semi-reactive layers.
Main
armament
GIAT CN120-26/52120mmtank gun[3]
40 rounds (1 round ready to fire in the chamber, 22 rounds inside the autoloader magazine with additional 18 rounds cylinder in the hull)
Secondary
armament
  • 12.7 mm coaxialM2HBmachine gun (1,100 rounds)
  • 7.62 mm machine gun (3,000 rounds)
EngineV8X SACM (Wärtsilä) 8-cylinderdiesel engine
1,100 kW (1,500 hp)[3]
Power/weight27.52 hp/tonne[3]
TransmissionAutomatic SESM[5]
Suspensionhydropneumatic
Fuel capacity1300 litres (1700 with fuel drums)
Operational
range
550 km (342 mi), 650 km (404 mi) with external fuel[3]
Maximum speed
  • 71 km/h (44 mph) on the road
  • 55 km/h (34 mph) off-road

TheLeclercis athird-generationFrenchmain battle tankdeveloped and manufactured byNexter Systems.It was named in honour ofMarshalPhilippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque,a commander of theFree French Forces,who led the2nd Armoured DivisioninWorld War II.

The Leclerc is in service with theFrench Army,Jordanian Armyand theUnited Arab Emirates Army.In production since 1991,[3]the Leclerc entered French service in 1992,[3]replacing theAMX-30as the country's main armoured platform. With production now complete, the French operate 222 Leclercs (with 184 more in storage, for a total of 406), while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) possesses 388.

Of the units in French service, 200 will be upgraded to theLeclerc XLRstandard with deliveries expected to begin in 2022.

History[edit]

In 1964, studies were initiated about a possible replacement vehicle for theAMX-30main battle tank: theEngin Principal Prospectif.In 1971, in view of the inferiority of the AMX-30 in comparison to the new generation of Soviet tanks about to be introduced, theDirection des Armements Terrestresordered the beginning of theChar Futurproject. In 1975, a working committee was created, and in 1977 it agreed on a list of specifications. In February 1980 however, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed withWest Germanyinvolving the joint development of a MBT, called theNapoléon Iin France andKampfpanzer IIIin Germany. Fundamental disagreements about its desired configuration led to a failure of this cooperation in December 1982. It was announced that a purely French battle tank would be developed, called "EPC" (Engin Principal de Combat). The importation of foreign equipment, like theM1 Abrams,theLeopard 2,or theMerkava,had been studied and rejected.[6]

In contrast to most Western programmes of the time, more emphasis was placed on active than passive protection to limit overall vehicle mass. Mobility for evading enemy fire and fire control systems were given particular attention. Nevertheless, it was a stated design goal to achieve at least double the protection against KE-penetrators in comparison to the level attained in then-current MBTs of the fifty-ton weight class, the latter indicated at about 400 mmRHAequivalency. The higher level of protection would also protect against shaped charges.[7]

The gunner's position, looking down from the turret roof

Partnership with a foreign state was sought to limit unit cost, and found when the UAE ordered 436 vehicles, adding to the 426 units already planned for the French Army.

In 1986, the project was started under the name "Leclerc", and six prototypes were swiftly built. Mass production started in 1990 with the four-unit Batch 1, used mainly for comparative tests in foreign countries. The 17 units of Batch 2 shipped with turret and hull armour improvements, but were diagnosed with engine and suspension problems and quickly retired. Batch 3 followed with further improvements and used to define the doctrine of use as well as instruction. Batches 4 and 5 were better built, eliminating recurring powerplant problems, and are still in service after having been refitted in the late 1990s.

The second series started with Batch 6, with an added climate control system in the right rear of the turret. Batch 7 introduced a transmission system to the command vehicle, and a data system giving instantaneous vision of the state of all battle tanks and acquired targets. It also incorporated minor improvements in the visor. Batch 8 units had a modernised electronic system, and Batch 9 replaced the ATHOS thermal imaging with aSAGEMIris providing better resolution.

In 2003, the Greek army sought to acquire a new tank and tested theT-80U,T-84,Leclerc,M1A2 Abrams,Challenger 2EandLeopard 2A5.The Leclerc received a perfect score at the firing range, with 20 rounds fired from 1500 and at 2000 m away. Its hunter-kill test performance was weaker, with the Leclerc scoring 13 out of 20, compared with 17 for the Leopard. Both the Leclerc and Leopard sustained a nine-round-per-minute firing rate, higher than those of the other tanks. The Leclerc achieved a 500 km range, higher than the others. But price tags seemed to be a determining factor and the Greek Army selected the Leopard.[8]

All previous Leclerc batches were to be modernised to Batch 9 standards as of 2005. In 2004, Batch 10 was presented, incorporating a new armor package and information systems that could share the location of enemy and friendly units with all vehicles on the battlefield. This was the beginning of the 96-unit third series. By 2007, 355 tanks were to have been operational, 320 of them incorporated in four regiments, each with 80 Leclercs.

As of 2010,after a French defence review, each of the four regiments operated 60 Leclerc tanks for a total of 240 in operational units; with a further 100 in combat ready reserve. Due to financial cuts, only 254 tanks were fully operational in 2011.[9]

Main Ground Combat System[edit]

Main article:Main Ground Combat System

In 2015,Nexter Systemsmerged with GermanKrauss-Maffei Wegmann(KMW), maker of theLeopard 2tank, to formKMW+Nexter Defense Systems(KNDS),[10]and the German Ministry of Defence announced plans to develop a new tank jointly with France as a successor to both the Leopard 2 and Leclerc tanks, namedMain Ground Combat System(MGCS).[11]At the 2018Eurosatory,KNDS presented a technology demonstrator tank combining the hull of aLeopard 2A7with the lighter, two-man turret of a Leclerc.[12][13]

System architecture definition and technology demonstration phase was to be completed by 2024, with production and testing to start in 2028.[14]

UAE bribery allegation[edit]

In September 2018,Der Spiegelreported that an intermediary in the $3 billion-plus UAE tank sale was paid a commission of nearly US$200 million, and that part of the sum may have been used to bribe government officials.[15]

Design[edit]

Armament[edit]

Primary[edit]

Closeup of the front of the turret; the 12.7 mm coaxial machine gun can be seen below and to the side of the 120 mm main gun.

The Leclerc is armed with a 120 mm version F1smoothboregun designed by the arsenal ofBourges(EFAB) under the designation of CN120-26. Its barrel is 52calibreslong instead of the 44 calibre common on most main battle tanks of its generation,[3]giving the projectile a higher muzzle velocity.

The Modèle F1 is compatible with120x570mm NATOammunition. This gun features amagnesium alloythermal sleeveand an automatic loading mechanism. Elevation (+20°), depression (-8°), and turret traverse (360°) are electrically powered. The Leclerc EMAT used by the French Army relies on compartment overpressure for barrel fume extraction while the UAE tropicalized Leclerc uses a compressed-air fume extraction system.

Autoloader[edit]

Located inside the turret bustle, theautoloaderis designated CHA (French:Chargement Automatique,"automatic loading" ) and was designed byCreusot-Loire Industrie.The autoloader itself weighs 500 kg (empty) and has a total volume of 1.68 m3(1.40 × 2.40 × 0.50 m). In case of ammunitioncooking off,the deflagration is vented by two blow-out panels.

The autoloader allows the reloading of the gun while firing on the move, providing it a sufficient rate of fire to deal with six targets in one minute. The nominal firing sequence is below 8 seconds and the repetition rate (loading two ammunition of the same type one after another) is below 6 seconds. The autoloader is managed by a TMMotorola 68021microprocessor.[16]

The autoloader consists of acontinuous link carriermagazine made of 22 cells and a rammer assembly. It can accommodate all types of ammunition that are to the NATO standard. Up to six different types of ammunition can be selected. The cell positions the selected round for loading. At the same time, the main gun is decoupled from the stabilization system, indexed to 1.8° elevation and locked in alignment with the loading gutter. Then, a telescopicrammerpushes the round from the cell into thegun breechvia afiberglassgutter. After loading, the weapon is automatically driven back to the specified angle in accordance with the fire control system. In case of a power outage, the conveyor can be put into motion by using a hand-cranked electric generator.

The ammunition is normally inserted in the autoloader through a port in the rear wall of the turret bustle. A control panel allows the autoloader cells to be rotated to present a new empty cell. Twobarcode readersidentify the introduced ammunition in order to manage its position in the conveyor at any time.[16]If the ammunition does not have abarcode,its type is entered through the control keyboard. It is possible to replenish the autoloader under armor, through a port in the inner bulkhead by using the 18 roundscylinderlocated to the right of the driver's position.

Secondary[edit]

The Leclerc is also equipped with a 12.7 mm coaxialM2heavy machine gunand a turret-mounted 7.62 mm machine gun, whereas most other NATO tanks use 7.62 mm weapons for both their coaxial and top machine gun mounts; the major exception is the American M1 Abrams, which has a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and two top-mounted machine guns, one 7.62 mm and one 12.7 mm.

Fire control and observation[edit]

The last 96 MBT XL Leclerc tanks have theICONE TISbattle management system with digital communication system which integrates data from other tanks and upper levels of command. Since 2009, all the Leclerc tanks in service (S2 and SXXI) have ICONE BMS. The digital fire control system can be operated independently by the gunner or the commander, and it offers real time integrated imaging from all of the tank's sensors and sights, including the gunner's SAVAN 20 stabilised sight, developed by SAGEM.

The commander's HL 70 panoramic sight

The Leclerc tank features the HL 60 gunner's primary sight fromSAGEM.The sight has two day channels; a direct one with ×3.3 and ×10 magnification (×14 in case of the UAE version) and a video channel with ×10 magnification. The thermal channel offers ×3 and ×10 magnifications. TheAthosthermal imagerhas a detection range of 5000 m, can recognize targets at 2500 m and identify them at 2000 m.[16]The laser range finder is of the Nd:YAG type. No emergency or auxiliary sights are mounted.

The tank commander can observe the surroundings through 7 episcopes and the SFIM HL 70 stabilized panoramic sight. The HL 70 is equipped with a day channel at ×2.5 and ×10 magnification and a night channel with ×2.5 magnification. TheUAEtropicalized Leclerc uses the improved HL 80 panoramic sight which features an electronic zoom ×2 and a laser range finder of theNd:YAGtype. The image intensifier is replaced by anAlisthermal imager. The Leclerc SXXI uses the HL 120 panoramic sight that incorporates anIristhermal imager. Both sights are also equipped with a semi-auto tracker for target acquisition. The combination of the gunner's primary sight and commander's panoramic sight allows the Leclerc to operate in a hunter-killer mode.

Protection[edit]

Thermal signature[edit]

A feature of the Hyperbar system used by the V8X1500 engine is that it does not emit visible smoke during acceleration, allowing to reduce theinfrared signatureof the tank. The exhaust temperature of the TM-307Bgas turbinenever exceeds 370°, whatever the engine speed.[16]

Ballistic[edit]

TheAMX-APXarmament institution was responsible for the studies related to the configuration and the integration of the new ballistic protection concepts.[17]

Original protection requirements were sent by the EPC project manager toAMX-APXon February 8, 1980. The protection of the future French main battle tank must guarantee a certain degree of invulnerability against125 mm APFSDSand 130 mm shaped-charges warheads over its frontal arc.[17]The whole fighting compartment must be protected againstRPG-7warheads and all-around protection should be provided against threats such as30 mmautocannons.

Stéphane Ferrard (1947-2015), a military historian and French journalist, stated in his book, "The Leclerc System", that:

Over its 60-degree frontal arc, the tank should be able to withstand multiple impacts of APFSDS ammunition belonging to the largest caliber currently available on the market.[16]

The turret and the hull are made of welded steel plates with a thickness ranging from 30 mm to 50 mm[18]on which removable composite armor modules are mounted. Twelve modules surround the turret (six per side); they are numbered 1 to 6, starting from the front end. The modules are covered by an anti-slip coating made offiberglass. The turret bustle that contains the autoloader is protected on both sides against30 mmarmor-piercing rounds and shoulder-fired anti-tank weapon such as theRPG-7.[17] The composite storage boxes around and on the turret play a triple role: carrying the tool set, reducingradar cross-sectionand acting asspaced armor.

Structuralself-sealing fuel tanksare located to the right forward part of the hull, in front and above the ammunition drum. Six heavy ballistic side skirts protect the front third of the hull sides; each is made of a composite panel covered by a steel outer shell.

SXXI[edit]
The extended composite armor block under the HL 130 gunner sight of a Leclerc SXXI.

At the end of 1990s, a study was initiated to protect the Leclerc tank against the latest threats. These includedATGMswithtandem shaped-chargewarheads capable of penetrating more than 1000 mm ofRHAsteel, as well as long-rod APFSDS with a length-to-diameter ratio of 30:1 with penetration performance exceeding 700 mm of RHA.[17][19]

The technical approach consisted of replacing the passive composite modules protecting both sides of the turret bustle with lighter, reactive modules, incorporating semi-reactive layers. This weight-saving measure allowed the use oftitaniumin the ballistic protection of the turret frontal arc.[20]It also shifted thecenter of gravitytowards the front of the turret, closer to the traverse axis, facilitating the dynamic laying of the turret drives.

Block 10 and 11 (T10 and T11) Leclerc SXXI tanks are recognizable by their add-onceramic armorplates bolted on the top of the reactive modules, protecting both sides of the autoloader compartment.

Passive counter-measures[edit]

Fourteen 80 mmdispensersof the Lacroix GALIX self-defence system are mounted onto the rear part of the turret. The French Army uses four types of ammunition:

  • Galix 3: three smoke grenades creating an opaque screen in the visual range for 50 seconds
  • Galix 4: two fragmentation grenades
  • Galix 6: one infrared decoy with a burn time of 10 seconds
  • Galix 13: three smoke grenades creating an opaque screen in the visual and infrared ranges for 30 seconds

Propulsion[edit]

French Army Leclerc tank navigating a course during exercise Strong Europe Tank Challenge in 2017.

The Leclerc has an eight-cylinder SACM (nowWärtsilä) V8X-1500 1,500 hp Hyperbardiesel engineand a SESM (now Renk AG)[21]automatic transmission,with five forward and two reverse gears. The official maximum speed by road is 71 km/h and 55 km/h cross country (speeds in excess of 80 km/h were reported on road). The maximum range is given as 550 km, and can be extended to 650 km with removable external tanks. The "hyperbar" system integrates a smallTurbomecaTM 307B[22]gas turbinein the engine, acting both as aturbochargerand anAPUgiving auxiliary power to all systems when the main engine is shut down. The Hyperbar name comes from the unusually highboost pressureof 7.5barand the resultingmean effective pressureof 32.1 bar.[23]For comparison, the turbocharged diesel engine in a typical passenger car has a mean effective pressure of about 20 bar.[24]In addition, with boost available even when idling, this arrangement also works as anantilag system.

With a combat weight of 56 tons, the Leclerc is one of the lighter main battle tanks in the world, though still considerably heavier than Soviet and later Russian designs; this gives it one of the best power-to-weight ratios among Western tanks (27 hp per ton) and makes it one of the fastest MBTs of its generation (0 to 32 km/h in 5 seconds).

The engine exhaust, exiting at the rear left, is cooled to reduce the thermal signature of the Leclerc.Transmissionishydromechanical,with five forward and two reverse gears. Fuel tanks carry 1,300 litres and act as extra protection for the tank; two 200-litre external tanks can be fitted on the rear of the hull, though they have to be jettisoned before entering combat because they limit turret rotation.

The gearbox is equipped with ahydrokineticretarder,which can slow the Leclerc down at a deceleration rate of 7 m/s2(0.7 g) which is automatically used over 30 km/h.

Operational history[edit]

The four regiments which operate the Leclerc are:

In service since 1992 (after thePersian Gulf War), the Leclerc has mostly seen deployment inlow-intensity conflicts,including 15Leclercstationed inKosovo(KFOR) and 13 others deployed in southLebanonuntil 2010 for theUNIFILpeacekeeping operations,during which their performance was judged satisfactory by French officials.

As of August 2015, Leclerc tanks of the UAE were deployed in combat operations inYemen(near Aden) as part of theSaudi-led coalition.[1][25][26][27][28][29]It is estimated that 70 Leclerc MBTs were deployed by the UAE in Yemen, 15 of them equipped with the AZUR package. During one month, three tanks were damaged, two by antitank mines and one by an RPG, which damaged the grid without piercing the hull. One of the episcopes was hit by a ATGM, possibly ofKonkursor Konkurs-M type, killing the driver and injuring the commander's legs.[30]None of these tanks were completely destroyed.[31]

During the Iron Spear exercise, October 2019, Leclerc tanks crewed by the Lynx 6 Tactical Inter-Service Sub-Group (S-GTIA) participated in an inter-alliance exercise and surpassed the American M1A2 Abrams, German, Spanish and Norwegian Leopard 2s, ItalianC1 Arieteand PolishPT-91.[32][33]

As part ofMission Aigle,Leclerc tanks of the1st Chasseur Regiment,7th Armoured Brigade were deployed to Romania in November 2022.[34][35]Currently, there are 13 tanks deployed with the Battle Group Forward Presence.[36]

Variants and upgrades[edit]

Built[edit]

Séries1:original production model, 134 produced.

S1OPSérie 1 Opérationnelle:refers to the 82 serviceable Leclerc S1 that were upgraded to the RT5 standard.

Séries2:perfected model with the ability to be deployed in desert environments, 176 produced.

  • new NBC system which integrates a hybrid air conditioner.
  • independent air conditioning unit installed on the back roof behind the gunner's hatch.
  • In order to balance the turret with the addition of the air conditioner, the turret frontal armor is thickened a few centimeters ahead of the commander's station.
  • revised sprocket cooling fins.
  • extra splash guard added to the front hull.
  • Remote operated hydraulic track tensioner.
  • bolt-on appliqué armour on each hull sponsons.
  • Athosthermal camera on the gunner's sight is replaced by the newIristhermal camera since the block 9 (T9).
  • SIT ICONE battlefield management system added in 2009

S2OPSérie 2 Opérationnelle:refers to the 137 serviceable Leclerc S2.

SériesXXI:96 produced.

  • New composite front armour package containingtitanium.Turret bustle composite armor has been replaced by a lighter explosive reactive armour.
  • Turret storage bins have been tailored for the larger armor package.
  • The commander has now the HL 120 panoramic sight which now features a laser rangefinder and theIristhermal camera.
  • Higher electrical turret output.
  • IFFindicator.
  • SIT ICONE battlefield management system.

Leclerc XLR:modernization project of the French Army Leclerc S2 and SXXI. 18 Leclerc will be retrofitted to the XLR standard in 2023, 200 Leclerc XLR are expected by 2029.[37]

  • Common SCORPION vetronics such as the SICS battlefield management system and CONTACT radio and Blue force tracking.
  • New fire control system adapted to the new 120 mm HE M3M multi-mode programmable high-explosive round.
  • FN HerstalT2Bremote weapon station.
  • Obsolescence management of the V8X1500 engine, especially itsTurbomécaTM-307B turbomachine.[38]
  • Mine protection belly plate.
  • BARRAGEIEDjammer.
  • Add-on composite side armour modules from the AZUR urban warfare kit.
  • Slat armour.

Tropicalized Leclercversion sold to the UAE; it is fitted with:

  • EuroPowerPackwith the 1,100 kW MT883 diesel engine built by the GermanMTU Friedrichshafencompany - the UAE has interests in this company and preferred the engine to be built by them.
  • Extended hull with increased fuel capacity.
  • Externally mounted dieselauxiliary power unitwith a tank infantry telephone fitted on its armored box.
  • Redesigned engine compartment (louver, access panels).
  • Engine-driven mechanical heavy-duty air-conditioning mounted in the left part of the hull.
  • HL-80 commander panoramic sight withAlisthermal camera and laser rangefinder.
  • ATO (Armement Télé-Opéré) remote-controlled weapon station for a 7.62 mmFN MAGmachine-gun operated under-armour by the HL-80 panoramic sight.
  • LeclercBattlefield Management System(LBMS).
  • Completely automated driving and turret functions with pictograms on the buttons for use by crew with only basic training.
  • Thermal tarp.
  • Some bustle storage bins are replaced by baskets.

Leclerc T4:Prototype with an elongated turret built in 1996. It was armed with a 140 mm smoothbore gun designed by the arsenal of Bourges (EFAB). In order to avoid being scrapped, the prototype turret was restored in the 2010s and mounted on a former Leclerc hull which was used in its last years as a towing vehicle. Following its restoration, the tank was nicknamedTerminateur(Terminator) by the director of the technical section of the French Army (Section Technique de l'Armée de Terreor STAT), who did everything to preserve this technological demonstrator. In 2017, the Terminateur was presented with the experimental Scorpion camouflage.[39]

Leclerc EPGEngin Principal du Génie:"main engineering vehicle": armoured engineering, one prototype built in 2001[40]

Leclerc MARS (Moyen Adapté de Remorquage Spécifique):Leclerc S1 converted into anarmoured recovery vehicledue to decreased order of Leclerc DNG (20 instead of 30). The main gun, the sights and the autoloader are removed to make it 5 tonnes lighter. Leclerc DNGDépanneur Nouvelle Génération:recovery tank deployed as of 2004[41]

Leclerc AZURAction en Zone URbaine:urban warfare kit foractions in urban areas.Some elements of the kit such as the add-on composite armour were bought by the UAE Army for their tropicalized Leclerc operating in Yemen.

Proposed concept[edit]

  • Leclerc PTG(Poseur de Travure du Génie):proposed bridgelayer variant developed in 1996, no prototypes were built.
  • Leclerc 'Flakpanzer'SPAAG:Early 1990s proposal of a Leclerc fitted with a turret derived from that of the GermanFlakpanzer Gepard.It was imagined as armed with twin35 mm Oerlikon KDA autocannonsand two twin packMistralSAM launchers (total of four ready missiles). It was not adopted for service due to post-Cold War defence cutbacks.[citation needed]
  • Leclerc Crotale:A proposal from the same time period to fit theCrotale NGSAM system to a Leclerc chassis. Intended primarily to protect armored formations on the move against aerial attack. Again not proceeded with due to cutbacks. No prototype known to have been built.[citation needed]
  • LeclercKoufra,or Leclerc T40: A proposal from the late 2000s to convert existingSéries1 vehicles into a 'heavy' reconnaissance scout, primarily forurban warfare.The conversion included a brand new turret incorporating aCTACT40Case Telescoped Weapon System(CTWS) as well as grenade launchers, along with provision for two side-mounted anti-tank missiles.[42]

Classified manual leak[edit]

In October 2021, in an attempt to win an argument in the official forums of the war simulation gameWar Thunder,a crewman allegedly leaked excerpts of the tank's classified manual. Forum moderators quickly removed the documents from their website, stating that they could not use the said classified documents due to legal problems that would ensue.[43][44]

Technical data[edit]

Description Leclerc Série 1 Leclerc Série 2 Leclerc Série XXI Tropicalized Leclerc
Produced 132 178 96 388
Date 1992–1996 1997-2003 2003-2008 1994 – early 2000s
Batch T1 to T5 T6 to T9 T10 to T11 Not applicable
Crew 3
Combat weight 54.5 t 56.3 t 57.6 t 57 t
Hull weight 36 t 37 t 37.5 t
Turret weight 18.5 t 19 t 20.5 t x
Gunner sight HL 60 HL 130 HL 60
Commander panoramic sight HL 70 HL 120 HL 80
Engine SACM V8X Hyperbar 8-cylinder diesel engine MTU MT 883 Ka 500 12-cylinder diesel engine
Engine displacement 16,470 cm3 27,361 cm3
Forced induction ratio 7.8 3
Power output 1500 hp (1,118 kW) at 2500 RPM 1500 hp (1,118 kW) at 2700 RPM
Maximum torque 4850 Nm at 1700 RPM 4545 Nm at 2000 RPM
Acceleration from 0–32 km/h (0–20 mph) 5 seconds 5.5 seconds 6 seconds
Transmission SESM ESM 500 Renk HSWL 295 TM
Suspension system 12 SAMM ESO twin-cylinder oleopneumatic suspension
Tracks V2 (aluminium alloy) V5 (steel) V2, V5 and Diehl 570
Maximum speed 71 km/h (backwards 38 km/h)
Fuel capacity 1,300 liters (up to 1700 liters with external fuel drums) 1,420 liters (up to 1820 liters with external fuel drums)
Hull length 6.88 m 7.03 m
Width 3.43 m (3.60 m with ballistic side skirts and 3.71 m with side-view mirrors)
Height 2.53 m (turret roof)
Ground clearance 500 mm
Wading depth without preparation 1.1 m
Wading depth with snorkel 4 m Not applicable
Trench passability 3 m
Climbing ability 1.1 m
Turret rotation time (360°) 12 seconds 9 seconds 12 seconds

Operators[edit]

Map of MBT Leclerc operators.
AUnited Arab Emirates ArmyLeclerc on display inIDEX2005 defense Exhibition inAbu Dhabi.
  • France:222 + 17 armoured recovery vehicles.[45]
  • UAE:354 tanks (originally 436)
  • Jordan:80 Tanks were donated by UAE.[46]

Potential operators[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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  10. ^"Home".knds.
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  14. ^Geiger, Waldemar (2020-05-22)."Deutsch-französische Panzerindustrie mit Auftrag für erste MGCS-Studie erteilt".ESUT - Europäische Sicherheit & Technik(in German).Retrieved2020-12-14.
  15. ^Becker, Sven; Sontheimer, Michael (28 September 2018)."The Shadowy Arms Trade - A Look Back at a Questionable Tank Deal".Der Spiegel.Archivedfrom the original on 20 February 2019.Retrieved20 January2019.An intermediary received a commission of almost $200 million for the sale of battle tanks to United Arab Emirates. Some of that money, though, may have been used to bribe government officials.
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Bibliography[edit]

  • Chassillan, Marc (2005).Char Leclerc: De la guerre froide aux conflits de demain.
  • Chassillan, Marc (2001).Raids Hors-série N.3: les chars de combat en action.
  • IISS (2020).The Military Balance 2020.Routledge.ISBN978-0367466398.

External links[edit]

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