| Leclerc XLR | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | France |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | KNDS France |
| Produced | 2021–present |
| No. built | 15[1] (200 ordered total) |
| Specifications | |
Main armament | 120 mmtank gun |
Secondary armament |
|
TheLeclerc XLR is a Frenchfourth-generation[citation needed]main battle tank (MBT) developed and manufactured by theKNDS France. It is a modernization of the third-generationLeclerc tank with the addition of a turret-mounted remotely-operated7.62mm calibermachine gun manufactured by Belgian companyFN Herstal, additional modular armour on the turret and hull, and rear wire cage armour to protect the engine compartment againstrocket propelled grenades.[2][3][4][5]
The components that mark this tank as fourth-generation are mostly electronic:networked architecture allowing an interface between theThales tacticalradio system, theNBC protection system,night vision equipment and theAtos-brandSCORPION Information and Command System (SICS) and associated display screens. The upgraded Leclerc comes with a counter-IED jammer, new man-machine interfaces for commander and gunner, redesigned main system computers, and a battle health monitoring system. Theinertial navigation system andGPS navigation system are fused.[3][4][5][2]
The fourth-generation[citation needed] upgrade of 200 Leclercs was announced in March 2015, with the first two XLR prototypes planned for 2018 and the remaining 198 slated for completion over eight years, starting in 2020. The contract was valued at approximately €330 million.[2] By 2025, 122 tanks are planned to be upgraded to the XLR version.
India: In January 2022 Nexter officials were contacted by India on participating in theFuture Ready Combat Vehicle program with the proposal of the Leclerc XLR MBT.[6] On 1 January 2022, theIndian Army was rumored to have invited the French to bid for a contract to supply 1,000 units of the Leclerc XLR to replace the aging IndianT-72 fleet.[4]
Croatia: In April 2022 talks were held between Nexter representatives and Croatian delegation about possible acquisition of Leclerc XLR tanks forCroatian Army.[7]| Armoured cavalry | |
|---|---|
| Artillery, transport and combat engineering | |
| French Army Light Aviation | |
| Main battle | |
|---|---|
| Light /medium | |
| Prototypes, experimentals | |
Background:History of the tank,Tank classification | |
