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LECLERC
The Leclerc Main Battle Tank built by Giat Industries is operational with the French Army and the Armed Forces of Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates. The Leclerc was first operational with the French Army in 1992 and with UAE in 1995. Leclerc Mk 2 tanks with improved software and engine control system entered production in 1998. The French Army has over 200 Leclerc MBT’s in service and in November 2000 ordered a further 96, out of a total requirement of 406. 380 tanks have been ordered by UAE.

BATTLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The Leclerc is fitted with the FINDERS (Fast Information, Navigation, Decision and Reporting System) battlefield management system, developed by Giat. 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.

ARMAMENT

The 120 mm 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/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 12.7 mm machine gun co-axial with the main gun and a roof-mounted 7.62 mm anti-aircraft gun.

FIRE CONTROL AND OBSERVATION

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 SFIM Industries, now part of SAGEM. HL-70 includes laser rangefinder, day channel, and second generation image intensifier. Recognition range is 4 km and identification range is 2.5 km. 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 SAGEM, which contains a three field of view thermal imager.

The driver's has three periscopes, the centre periscope being the OB-60 driver's sight developed by Thales Optrosys (formerly Thomson-CSF), which has day and night channels.

SELF-PROTECTION

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

PROPULSION

The Leclerc is equipped with an SACM V8X-1500 Hyperbar diesel engine providing 1,500 hp at 2,500 rpm. An electronic engine management system is supplied by SAGEM. 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 70 km/hour and cross country speed up to 50 km/hour.

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 1,500 hp, coupled with Renk HSWL295 TM automatic transmission. For this and export versions of the tank, Giat has developed the Leclerc Battle Management System (LBMS), a derivative of FINDERS. The HL-70 commander's sight has been replaced by the HL-80, also from SFIM.

LECLERC NEW GENERATION RECOVERY VEHICLE

The Leclerc New Generation Recovery Vehicle (NGRV) has a longer hull with seven pairs of wheels. An 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 30,000 kg loads and a winch with 180 m cable rated at 35,000 kg. A secondary winch is rated at 1,500 kg. The crane and winch systems are supplied by Rheinmetall Landsystemes GmbH.

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The Leclerc Main Battle Tank is operational with the French Army and the Armed Forces of Abu Dhabi.
The Leclerc Main Battle Tank is operational with the French Army and the Armed Forces of Abu Dhabi.
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The Leclerc Main Battle Tank.
The Leclerc Main Battle Tank.
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The Commander
The Commander's Station with the Finder's battle management system.
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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 per minute.
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 per minute.
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Leclerc on exercise in Qatar.
Leclerc on exercise in Qatar.
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The Leclerc can re-fire at different moving targets whilst on the move.
The Leclerc can re-fire at different moving targets whilst on the move.
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The Leclerc
The Leclerc's weight of 56t make for easy transportation and allow the crossing of a wider range of bridges.
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The Leclerc Main Battle Tank demonstrates it
The Leclerc Main Battle Tank demonstrates it's manoeuverability in Europe.
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The tropicalised Leclerc Main Battle Tank demonstrates the fire power of its 120mm main armament.
The tropicalised Leclerc Main Battle Tank demonstrates the fire power of its 120mm main armament.
Specification