military knowledge: AMX Leclerc Main Battle Tank

The Char Leclerc is a main battle tank (MBT) built by GIAT, now Nexter of France. It was named in honour of General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, who led the French element of the drive towards Paris while in command of the Free French 2nd Armoured Division (2e DB) in World War II.

The Leclerc is in service with the French Army and the army of the United Arab Emirates. In production since 1991, the Leclerc entered French service in 1992, replacing the AMX 30 as the country's main armoured platform. With production now complete, the French Army has 406 Leclerc and the United Arab Emirates Army has 388. The price in 2011 was €9.3 million, which made it the most expensive tank in history at the time. Following the devaluation of the Euro[clarification needed] its price fell dramatically, and in 2014 the K2 Black Panther surpassed the Leclerc's price record

Leclerc battle tank urban operations upgrade

In June 2006, Nexter unveiled the Leclerc optimised for urban operations. It is fitted with the AZUR kit, which consists of additional protection in the form of side skirts of composite material, bar armour on the rear of hull and turret to protect against rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and extra protection for the engine against petrol bombs.

A remotely controlled 7.62mm machine gun is also fitted in addition to the 120mm gun.

In early 2011, Nexter signed an agreement with the International Golden Group to supply Azur up-armour kits for the Leclerc MBTs of the UAE Armed Forces.
"The Leclerc was first operational with the French Army in 1992."

FINDERS battle management system

The Leclerc is fitted with the FINDERS (fast information, navigation, decision and reporting system) battlefield management system, developed by Nexter Systems. FINDERS includes a colour map display which shows the positions of the host tank, allied and hostile forces and designated targets and can be used for route and mission planning.

The French Army has selected Nexter to equip its Leclerc main battle tanks with a terminal information system (TIS) called Icone (ergonomic communications and navigation interface). The initial phase of the contract covers the equipment of more than 100 Leclerc tanks.

The TIS has been developed together with EADS Defense Electronics Systems. It permits the exchange of digitised data including tactical situation and the graphic orders displayed on a background map, between the vehicle and higher level command.

Leclerc main battle tank armament

The 120mm 52-calibre smoothbore gun is fitted with a thermal sleeve and muzzle reference system. Fumes are exhausted with a compressed air unit. The gun, which fires APFSD (armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot) and HEAT (high-explosive anti-tank) rounds, has a firing rate of 12 rounds a minute. The aiming system is entirely electrical for improved acceleration.

The tank has an automatic loading system, which allows cross-country fire-on-the-move against mobile targets. 22 rounds of ready-to-use ammunition are carried. The tank is also armed with a 12.7mm machine gun co-axial with the main gun and a roof-mounted 7.62mm anti-aircraft gun.

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

Digital fire control and observation systems

The digital fire control system allows the gunner or commander to select six different targets to be engaged in just over 30 seconds. The system’s digital computer allows realtime treatment of data from the tank’s sensors and sights.

The commander has eight periscopes and an HL-70 stabilised panoramic sight from Safran (formerly SAGEM).
"In 2006, Giat unveiled the Leclerc optimised for urban operation."

HL-70 includes laser rangefinder, day channel, and second-generation image intensifier.

Recognition range is 4km and identification range is 2.5km. The commander has a display showing the gunner’s thermal sight. The gunner’s station is equipped with gunner’s main sight, three periscopes and a visual display unit. The gunner’s stabilised sight is SAVAN 20 from Safran, which contains a three-field-of-view thermal imager.

The driver’s station has three periscopes, of which the centre periscope is the OB-60 driver’s sight developed by Thales Optronique (formerly Thomson-CSF), which has day and night channels.

Galix combat vehicle protection system

Leclerc is fitted with Galix combat vehicle protection system, developed by Nexter and Lacroix Tous Artifices. Nine launch tubes for the 80mm grenades are fitted on either side of the turret roof. The Galix system can launch smoke or anti-personnel grenades or infrared decoys.

Nexter has developed the KBCM defensive aids suite which can befitted to the Leclerc. KBCM includes laser warner, missile warner, infrared jammer and the Galix system and can be integrated with the FINDERS battle management system. The French Army has evaluated the system.

SACM V8X-1500 Hyperbar diesel engine

The Leclerc is equipped with an SACM V8X-1500 Hyperbar diesel engine providing 1,500hp at 2,500rpm. An electronic engine management system is supplied by Safran. The SESM ESM 500 automatic transmission has a hydrostatic transmission unit and five forward and two reverse gears. The engine is fitted with a Suralmo-Hyperbar high pressure gas turbine. The engine provides a road speed over 70km/h and cross-country speed up to 50km/h.

The tank also has a Turbomeca TM-307B gas turbine auxiliary power unit. The hydropneumatic suspension system is from Societe d’Applications des Machines Motrices (SAMM).

UAE tropicalised Leclerc main battle tank

The tropicalised Leclerc is optimised for tropical and desert conditions to meet the requirement of the UAE. A new powerpack and diesel auxiliary power unit has been installed and the hull is extended at the back to accommodate the powerpack and larger fuel tanks. The Euro Powerpack has the MTU 883 V-12 diesel engine providing 1,500hp, coupled with Renk HSWL295 TM automatic transmission.

"Leclerc is fitted with Galix combat vehicle protection system."

For this and export versions of the tank, Nexter has developed the Leclerc Battle management equipment (LBME), a derivative of FINDERS. The HL-70 commander’s sight has been replaced by the HL-80, also from SFIM.

Leclerc NGRV new-generation recovery vehicle

The Leclerc new-generation recovery vehicle (NGRV) has a longer hull with seven pairs of wheels.

A hydraulically operated blade at the front of the vehicle is used to clear a path through battlefield obstacles. The vehicle is equipped with an hydraulic crane rated to lift 30,000kg loads and a winch with 180m cable rated at 35,000kg. A secondary winch is rated at 1,500kg. The crane and winch systems are supplied by Rheinmetall Landsystemes GmbH.

Leclerc

Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1993–present
Wars	Yemeni Civil War (2015)
Production history
Designed	1983–1989
Manufacturer	GIAT Industries (now Nexter)
Unit cost	₣rs104,304,000 in 1993, US$4+million in 2016
Produced	1990–2008 (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
Weight	series 1: 54.5 tonnes series 2: 56.3 tonnes series XXI : 57.4 tonnes
Length	9.87 m (6.88 without gun)
Width	3.60 m
Height	2.53 m
Crew	3 (Commander, gunner, driver)

Armour	modular composite armor SXXI version include titanium, tungsten and semi-reactive layers.
Main armament	GIAT CN120-26/52 120mm tank gun 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)
Engine	8-cylinder diesel SACM (Wärtsilä) 1,100 kW (1,500 hp)
Power/weight	27.52 hp/tonne
Transmission	Automatic SESM ESM 500
Suspension	hydropneumatic
Fuel capacity	1300 liters (1700 ℓ with fuel drums)
Operational range	550 km, 650 km (400 mi) with external fuel
Speed	72 km/h (45 mph)