Leclerc XLR/SCORPION Program | Modernized French Main Battle Tank

Leclerc Scorpion or XLR is a modernized version of the existing AMX-56 French-made Leclerc Main Battle Tank designed and manufactured by Nexter Systems. In March 2015, The French Army Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) notified Nexter Systems of a renovation contract for the Leclerc MBT. The goal of this program is to maintain the Leclerc MBT in service with the French Armed forces beyond 2040. According to military sources, the first two prototypes are planned to be completed in 2018 and the remaining 198 MBTs will be upgraded from 2020 through to 2028. The upgraded Leclerc MBT will have more firepower and protection. The renovated MBT Leclerc XLR will keep the same armament as the standard Leclerc tank which consists of a Giat 120 mm 52 caliber smoothbore gun designated the CN 120-26 120mm. The gun is fitted with a thermal sleeve and a compressed air system for blowing out propellant fumes. The turret is equipped with an automatic loading system that contains 22 rounds of ready-use ammunition normally loaded from outside through a small hatch in the back of the turret bustle. The new Leclerc will be able to fire two main types of 120 mm ammunition, the A.P.F.S.D.S Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding-Sabot) and HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank). Nexter has also developed a new type of 120mm High-Explosive (HE) rounds designated HE M3M that can be set for impact, delay, and airburst function. A 12.7 mm machine gun is mounted coaxially with the main armament. The Leclerc...