The French Army has used the Leclerc to conduct overseas missions in Lebanon, Estonia, and Romania. It also integrated a 7.62-millimeter remotely-operated turret to support urban combat.Īdditionally, the tank is now fitted with a new fire control system, allowing operators to fire ammunition using a programmable effect or trigger. The recent upgrade includes enhanced protection against mines and rockets. It is operated by three personnel: a tank commander, gunner, and pilot. France (1986-2000) Main Battle Tank None Built Patents, the government license issued to an inventor or company to commercially protect or exploit an innovation or design, are wide ranging and can be as small as a new way of doing something up to a total rethink of how an existing thing might work.

The Leclerc is a third-generation, 60-ton tank armed with a 120-millimeter smoothbore gun and a 12.7-millimeter coaxial machine gun. This publication shows all main battle tank variants and. Nexter plans to deliver its first 18 upgraded Leclerc main battle tanks this year. For the Modern French Army the Leclerc is the major step from the Cold War into the 21st century. It features the Scorpion collaborative warfare system - a digital backbone connecting vehicles for so-called “collaborative combat.” The contract was awarded amid continuing industrial qualification tests in close cooperation with the agency and the French Army.Īccording to the company, the first prototype tank was handed over at the end of 2022. The French defense procurement agency has ordered 50 upgraded Leclerc main battle tanks from local defense firm Nexter.

Modern french tank