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AMX-56 Leclerc - Upgrades

Even though Leclerc tank is no longer in production, Nexter is still devoting massive resources to keeping it as efficient as possible. Nexter Systems is investing with the Army and DGA in preparation for a Leclerc tank renovation project, respecting a logic of partnership and a search for the best compromise between cost and performance. This project forms part of the Military Planning Law and forms part of SCORPION overall operation that now governs all Army programs. The first phase was done between 2007 and 2009, by producing a technical economic file for DGA describing several types of architectures for the renovated tank. In particular, the adopted approach includes a value analysis phase and organisation of the development, deployment and the support of the renovated standard.

The main purposes of renovating the Leclerc tank are:

• Treatment of serious obsolescence, essential to be able to modernise the tank,
• Adaptation of the Leclerc tank to satisfy new needs:
• Integration in the Scorpion operation,
• Combat in urban zones,
• Better protection against IEDs, Mines, RPGs, etc.
• Reduction of support costs,
• Keeping the Leclerc up to the best standards for heavy tanks,
• Maintenance of industrial skills.

Development of the renovated standard began in 2012 for deployment starting in 2016. This project will contribute towards keeping Leclerc fleet fully effective until 2040.

AZUR® KIT (ADAPTATION OF THE LECLERC TANK TO ACTIONS IN URBAN ZONES) STAT initiated the operation at the end of 2005 for the official opening of CENZUB (Centre d'Entraînement aux actions en Zone Urbaine - Urban Operations Training Centre) planned for September 2006. The objective was that when the training centre was opened, ABC equipment would be presented “equipped” for the situation. The basic principle of the project was REACTIVE ADAPTATION of armored vehicles to the very specific context of ACTION IN URBAN AREAS.

This principle of reactive adaptation implied the use of simple and efficient solutions that can be developed quickly and installed (in the form of a kit) on the vehicles concerned since the need is specific and limited in time and space. The concept of action in urban areas is fundamentally opposed to combat in urban areas, and the objective was to have a graduated response capability beginning at the "crowd control" level using non-lethal weapons without reducing the full capability of the tanks.

In addition, wherever possible, the developed kits should be common to the different vehicles and installable on armored vehicles in open areas by the crew in less than half a day, in order to reduce the logistics footprint. After working to make a common analysis of operational needs based on feedback from experience, technical solutions were produced in order to make a functional demonstrator for each equipment item loaned by EMAT (Army Headquarters) so as to make an operational evaluation at the CENZUB at the end of 2006 – beginning of 2007.

The study made on "needs of an inter-army tactical group engaged in urban area" identifying 42 threats and/or risks classified according to treatment priorities, concluded that LECLERC AZUR demonstrator should have the following functions on an S2 tank:

• Remotely operated 7.62 cupola independent of the gunner with an integrated sight camera.
• 4 VAB, VBL, and VBCI compatible multi-purpose jettisonable boxes suitable for carrying standard military replenishment equipment: munition boxes, water jerricans, stretchers, etc.
• 360° "near" vision capacity around the tank;
• GALIX NL or ALR carrying capacity eventually with differential control of launcher pots by "zone".
• Ability to supply civil and/or military "accessories" including a spot light, megaphone, telephone charger, video camera, drink warmers, etc.
• Ability for "wireless" communications up to 200m with 1 to 3 offboard infantrymen.
• Add-on special protection (non-reactive) against the RPG7 threat around 360°.
• Protection of engine and air conditioning accesses, and exhaust, against "incendiary" type aggressions
• Add-on signalling system for "mutual identification of different vehicles "
• Signalling system during tank reversing movements (safety of infantry men).

LECLERC AZUR demonstrator presented at Eurosatory 2006 helped to improve the experience and studies of the Armed Forces on the doctrine of how to use equipment in an urban area (around the opening of the CENZUB).