The French Military (Armée de Terre) has a complete of 222 Leclerc MBT primary battle tank and for 2025 122 Leclerc tanks will probably be upgraded to the usual Leclerc Scorpion or XLR Configuration. The most recent improve package deal a part of the SCORPION (Synergie du COntact Renforcé par la Polyvalence et l’data valorisatION) program. This system goes properly past the event and supply of the GRIFFON, JAGUAR and SERVAL automobiles, together with the renovation of the LECLERC primary battle tank. Higher protected and extra cell, all of the techniques developed throughout the framework of the Programme and equipping France’s joint battle teams are additionally totally linked and share fight data instantaneously. Inclusion of latest tactical interfaces, new armor packages, RWS turret, in addition to a number of extra sensors and grenade launchers.
The Leclerc Scorpion or XLR is a modernized model of the French-made Leclerc Foremost Battle Tank (MBT) designed and manufactured by the French Firm Nexter Programs. The renovated Leclerc Scorpion / XLR primary battle tank will preserve the identical armament as the usual Leclerc tank which consists of a Giat 120 mm 52 caliber smoothbore gun designated the CN 120-26. The turret is provided with an computerized loading system that accommodates 22 rounds of ready-use ammunition usually loaded from outdoors by a small hatch at the back of the turret bustle. The gun is fitted with a thermal sleeve and a compressed air system for blowing out propellant fumes. The Leclerc Scorpion is fitted with a remotely operated weapon station mounted on the highest of the turret which is armed with a 7.62mm machine gun. A 12.7 mm machine gun can be mounted coaxially with the primary armament.
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The Leclerc MBT Scorpion / XLR will use the identical powerpack as the usual Leclerc tank which consists of a eight-cylinder SACM (now Wärtsilä) V8X-1500 1,500 hp Hyperbar diesel engine coupled to a SESM ESM 500 totally computerized transmission with 5 ahead and two reverse gears and hydrostatic transmission. The Hyperbar title comes from the unusually excessive increase strain of seven.5 bar and the ensuing imply efficient strain of 32.1 bar. With a fight weight of 56 tons, the Leclerc is without doubt one of the lighter primary battle tanks on the planet, although nonetheless significantly heavier than Soviet and later Russian designs; this offers it the most effective power-to-weight ratios amongst Western tanks (27 hp per ton) and makes it one of many quickest MBTs of its era (0 to 32 km/h in 5 seconds).
The Leclerc Scorpion is upgraded with a brand new armor package deal that features extra modular armor on the hull and the turret. The turret and the hull are product of welded metal plates with a thickness starting from 30 mm to 50 mm on which detachable composite armor modules are mounted. The entrance a part of the hull facet is protected by thick passive armor, whereas the rear half is fitted with wire cage armor to guard the engine compartment towards assaults of RPGs (Rocket-Propelled Grenade). The rear a part of the hull can be fitted with wire cage armor. Fourteen 80 mm dispensers of the Lacroix GALIX self-defence system are mounted onto the rear a part of the turret. A function of the Hyperbar system utilized by the V8X1500 engine is that it doesn’t emit seen smoke throughout acceleration, permitting to cut back the infrared signature of the tank.
