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Main Battle Tanks

GRANNY001

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Absolutely Gripen9! Most small & medium caliber Naval guns have the same auto loader features. Our Halifax class 57mm bofors gun has an auto load feature along with the "yet-to-be-built" CSC Frigate 5" Naval medium cal main Gun.:|}{




 
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Khafee

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Nexter Prepares the Future of Battle Tank Armament


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Leaning on its expertise in battle tank armament, illustrated by the Leclerc’s self-loading gun, and on the excellence of its ammunition activity, Nexter (KNDS group) is presenting a new main armament concept for main battle tanks, designed to deal with future heavily armored threats.

This breakthrough weapon represents a major contribution by the French industry to achieve at the end of a cooperative development: a new common solution for France and Germany enhancing the value of distributed activity and balanced skill contributions within the European DTIB.

By 2040-2050, allied nations will potentially face the return of high-intensity confrontations. In theland domain, armies will have to equip themselves with modern means for tactical superiority, manned or unmanned, integrating numerous systems, reaching the highest levels of protection for the crewand the capacity to neutralize the adversary. Faced with numerous and hardened threats, winning the battle from the outset will require shooting faster, farther and with a higher destructive capacity onthe first shot, while reducing logistical and ergonomic constraints.

Next generation large-caliber weapons will have to be able to guarantee the armed forces tacticalsuperiority not only tomorrow (2035), but also for the following decades. In order to meet this ambitious objective, Nexter is developing an innovative concept that has the potential to evolve anddeliver performance that current technologies no longer offer. Taking advantage of its long experience with the 120mm smoothbore gun of the Leclerc tank, its mastery of telescoped ammunition as well asthe maturity achieved during firing campaigns with a 140mm caliber, Nexter is proposing the ASCALONconcept (“Autoloaded and SCALable Outperforming guN”) designed to cope with the latest generationof heavy armor while staying ahead of the threats of the next half-century.

Based on technical solutions that will be fully mature by 2025, ASCALON offers an open architecture designed to serve as the basis for cooperative development under the Franco-German MGCSprogram. This concept lays the foundations for the future European battle tank gun and ammunition standard, drawing on previous experiences with allies, such as in the 140mm FTMA gun program.

Thanks to its breakthrough features, ASCALON is characterized by:
• A wide choice of terminal effects: the enlarged caliber enriches the range of ammunition for an optimal effect on the target thanks to rods of unparalleled length. It also makes it possible to foresee intelligent ammunition for firing beyond direct sight (BLOS/NLOS), which will provide new capacities while reducing the vulnerability of the tank.
• Compact ammunition: with a maximum length of 130 cm, ASCALON telescoped ammunition will be more compact than an equivalent caliber ammunition. It can be stored and integrated in a self-loading turret, a technology mastered by Nexter and proven over many years on the Leclerc tank.
• Increased firepower: the optimized chamber offers exceptional operational performance with an energy level close to 10 megajoules for kinetic ammunition, while remaining below the internal pressure level of current calibers. This untapped potential will enable the weapon to evolve to a performance class of 13 megajoules capable of addressing any threat over the next 50 years.
• A controlled blast effect: an innovative muzzle brake, adjusted external pressure fields and an optimized firing impulse will strongly limit the blast effect of the shot. ASCALON will thus allow the presence of infantrymen in the vicinity of the tank for joint combat, particularly in urban areas.
• Exceptional integration capacity: thanks to a controlled impulse, ASCALON will have a recoil and acceleration effort compatible with mobile and projectable platforms weighing less than 50 tons, while preserving the vehicle's layout capabilities.

Relying on Nexter’s long experience in the field of tank guns and telescoped ammunition, offering an architecture conducive to balanced industrial cooperation, the ASCALON concept has all the assets to become the standard gun for future heavy battle tanks. Its dedicated ammunition is the only one technological and tactical superiority for the coming decades. ASCALON is a breakthrough weapon for breakthrough land combat systems.

Nexter, the leading French land defense company and third European player in the ammunition sector is part of the KNDS Group. The scope of its business includes as well the supply of weapon systems and ammunition for air and naval forces. Nexter also provides systems and protection solutions in the field of homeland security. The group continues to apply its international development policy with 69% of the order intake in 2019 intended for the export market.

In France, Nexter is fully committed to meeting the objectives of the SCORPION program, through the upgrade of the Leclerc tank and the development of the VBMR GRIFFON and EBRC JAGUAR vehicles within the temporary business venture between Nexter, Thales and Arquus, as well as the Lightweight VBMR SERVAL.

Nexter’s 2019 turnover amounted to €2.5 billion. The group’s range of products also includes TITUS® and VBCI armored vehicles, CAESAR® and 105LG1 artillery systems, smart ammunition (BONUS), robots, many equipment, as well as customer service, support and revaluation.
 

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German and British defense officials discuss ‘Eurotank’ cooperation

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The Franco-German joint venture KNDS displayed its new European Main Battle Tank proposal, meant as precursor for the future Main Ground Combat System, at the 2018 Eurosatory exhibit in Paris on June 11, 2018.


COLOGNE, Germany – The defense-acquisition chiefs of Germany and the U.K. have agreed to expand the scope of their bilateral defense relations, highlighting the Main Ground Combat System and other land programs as areas for cooperation.

Mention of the “Eurotank” in a German readout of a call between Benedikt Zimmer and Jeremy Quin about their April 22 talk comes as British officials have pushed for months to be admitted as observers in the Franco-German program.

Germany has supported the request, in line with Berlin’s efforts insulate defense relations with London from an otherwise stressful divorce between the United Kingdom and the European Union.

A spokeswoman for the German defense ministry told Defense News this week’s Eurotank talks revolved around the status of the program and the German side’s acknowledgment that Britain wants to play a role.

The French, meanwhile, still must make a decision as to whether to include the British, the spokeswoman added. Paris has traditionally been more apprehensive about expanding the circle of players in European defense programs, including the Future Combat Air System.

The prospect of the U.K. joining the MCGS program raises questions about the overall equilibrium in the rest of the trifecta of German-French programs: FCAS and the “Eurodrone.” Interest groups in both countries have at times treated advancements in either either program as permissible only if certain political conditions are met on the other two.

Besides the Eurotank, Zimmer and Quin also discussed opportunities for cooperation around the Boxer vehicle and a future floating bridging system for land forces. Both Germany and the U.K. are key NATO contributors in Europe when it comes to mobile bridges that enable land forces, including heavy tanks, to cross lakes and rivers.

The two countries plan to convert a binational armor formation in Minden, Germany, into a unit with a more amphibious bent come October 2021, the German defense ministry’s readout states.
 

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Khafee

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Leclerc tank for replacement of Indian T-72 MBTs

Saturday, 01 January 2022


According to information published by the "Zone Militaire" website on December 31, 2021, French Company Nexter was contacted by the Indian Government in the framework to participate to the Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) program of the Indian Army and could propose the modernized Leclerc XLR Main Battle Tank.


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Nexter has developed the Leclerc XLR main battle tank, a modernized version of the Leclerc tank in service with the French army

In June 2021, Army Recognition has reported that India published a Request for Information (RFI) for the procurement of 1,700 main battle tanks that would replace the old Russian-designed T-72M/M1 Ajeya MBTs (Main Battle Tanks).

Currently, the French army has launched a program to modernize its fleet of Leclerc Main Battle Tanks (MBT) to the standard Leclerc XLR for 2028. This program constitutes the third operation launched by the French Ministry of Defense under the SCORPION program intended to modernize the French Army's contact forces. Valued at approximately €330 million, the contract provides for the delivery of 200 "Renovated Leclerc" tanks and 18 "Renovated DCL" armored recovery vehicles based on the Leclerc MBT from 2020.

The upgraded Leclerc MBT will have more firepower and protection. It also will be fitted with a new remotely operated weapon station mounted on the roof of the turret as well as a new modernized computerized firing control system.

Citing the "Zone Militaire" website, following a question asked by the French Deputy Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, if the French company Nexter could win the procurement of the 1,700 MBTs for India, French industry could relaunch production of the Leclerc tanks for India and France will be able to offer a new competitive price of Leclerc tank for the Indian army and for the export market.

According to the military balance 2020, currently, the French army has a total of 222 Leclerc MBTs, but the French Deputy Nicolas Dupont-Aignan said, today the needs of the French army would be to have 400 tanks.

India could start the replacement of its old T-72 MBTS from 2030, and the French defense minister said, Nexter with the German company Kraus-Maffei Wegman under the umbrella of KNDS are studying solutions to meet Indian demand.


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Nexter Leclerc XLR Main Battle Tank was unveiled at the Eurosatory defense exhibition in France, June 2018.



The Leclerc XLR is a modernized version of the French-made Leclerc Main Battle Tank (MBT) designed and manufactured by the French Company Nexter Systems. 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.

The turret of the Leclerc XLR 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 APFSDS (Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding-Sabot) with a muzzle velocity of 1,790 m/s and HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) with a muzzle velocity of 1,100 m/s, both having a semi-combustible cartridge case containing a dual-base solid propellant.

The Leclerc XLR is upgraded with a new armor package that includes additional modular armor on the hull and the turret. The front part of the hull side is protected by thick passive armor, while the rear part is fitted with wire cage armor to protect the engine compartment against attacks of RPGs (Rocket-Propelled Grenade).
 
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