Leclerc tank

Leclerc
Leclerc tank during military exercise
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service1992–present
WarsOperation Joint Guardian
UNIFIL
Yemeni 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
SXXI version include titanium and semi-reactive layers.
Main
armament
GIAT CN120-26/52 120mm tank 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 coaxial M2HB machine gun (1,100 rounds)
  • 7.62 mm machine gun (3,000 rounds)
EngineV8X SACM (Wärtsilä) 8-cylinder diesel 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

The Leclerc is a third-generation French main battle tank developed and manufactured by Nexter Systems. It was named in honour of Marshal Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, a commander of the Free French Forces, who led the 2nd Armoured Division in World War II.

The Leclerc is in service with the French Army, Jordanian Army and the United Arab Emirates Army. In production since 1991,[3] the Leclerc entered French service in 1992,[3] replacing the AMX-30 as 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 the Leclerc XLR standard with deliveries expected to begin in 2022. During the Eurosatory 2024 presented Leclerc Evolution and EMBT ADT140, prototypes of the enhanced fourth-generation main battle tank.[6]

  1. ^ تقرير ميداني من العلم .. نقطة الامداد الرئيسية للحوثيين وصالح تحت سيطرة المقاومة. youtube.com (in Arabic). 31 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Le Franc-Tireur Terre #1 (2022)" (PDF). p. 50. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Gelbart, Marsh (1996). Tanks main battle and light tanks. Brassey's UK Ltd. pp. 28–29. ISBN 1-85753-168-X.
  4. ^ "Caractéristiques Principales". staticflickr.com (in French). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  5. ^ "ESM500 – High-end transmission for 50+ tons class vehicles". Renk France. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  6. ^ defensemagazine.com. "France's Leclerc XLR, Leclerc Evolution and EMBT-ADT 140 at Eurosatory 2024".