Technologies in the service of the army. What is known about the French LECLERC tank

France is not too well known for its tank construction, but Leclerc deserves a memory. The machine has a charging machine, which reduces the number of crew members to three, fully stabilized gun and a number of other features. The French LECLERC tank, although less known than its analogues like M1 Abrams or Leopard 2, remains one of the best major combat tanks in modern military equipment. Developed at the end of the XX century to replace outdated AMX-30, Leclerc was armed in 1991.

Focus has translated Peter Suchu's article about the French main LECLERC combat tank. The LECLERC tank is equipped with a 120-mm smooth-barreled main gun with an automatic charging system, which allows a crew of three people to maintain a high shooting rate. Equipped with a modern modular armor and a complex battle management system, Leclerc exceeds everyone by level of protection and combat efficiency.

Recently, a modernized version has been presented, which increases the protection of the tank from modern threats to the battlefield, such as IED and anti-tank missiles, and testifies to the constant innovations of France in the armored area. France is not considered a tank state, but during the First World War, the French army was at the forefront of tank developments, and the Renault FT tank was significantly different from the British and German tanks of that era.

It first used such a standard element as a tower today. Now French tanks remain in the shadow of Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom. However, the French soldiers still have one of the best major combat tanks. Four decades ago, when the United States was adopted by M1 Abrams and Germany - Leopard 2, the French military began to develop Leclerc. It was intended to replace the outdated AMX-30 tanks. The first serial samples of Leclerc were armed in 1991.

Leclerc is considered a general car: it is equipped with an automatic charging system of main weapons. Machine guns with remote control make it possible to limit themselves to a crew of only three people - the commander, the driver and the gunner. The third generation French tank is armed with a 120-mm smooth-bore main gun. It is longer than guns on Leopard 2 or M1 Abrams, but shoots almost the same ammunition.

The 120-mm gun is fully stabilized, which makes it possible to fire on the go, even on the road. Thanks to the Leclerc car charge, it can fire at 12 shots per minute. The auto -loader can also quickly switch between APFSDS and Heat - two main types of shells carried by the machine. The usual ammunition is 22 ready -made shells in the tower and another 18 in the building.

The commander leads to a panoramic sight with a laser rangefinder and an image amplifier, and the sight of the gunner is equipped with a thermal imaginary range. The crew is protected by an advanced modular reservation system that can be adapted to numerous threats. The armor of the tank - a combination of steel, ceramics and kevlar - was designed in such a way as to provide easy replacement of damaged modules.

The tower and roof of the case withstand the hit of ammunition from above, and the chassis of the tank is covered with wide lateral lining. Standard equipment also includes a fire detection/extinguishing system and a land navigation system. The onboard electrical systems are fully integrated, which allows them to automatically replace them in case of failure or damage on the battlefield.

The French Tank is equipped with a Finders (Fast Information, Navigation, Decision and Reporting), which provides a color card crew to designate allied and hostile forces. The 57-ton Leclerc is equipped with a SACM V8 diesel engine with a capacity of 1500 horsepower. To increase the prompt range, the tank can be equipped with additional fuel tanks.

Last November, Defense Blog reported that the 501st heavy tank regiment, stationed in Murmelon-Le-Gran, received the first of the modernized Leclerc options. Other improvements in the tank have increased protection against homemade explosive devices and anti -tank missiles. "The first renewed LECLERC (XL-R) tank has arrived in the 501st VTP! This is the fourth-generation combat tank equipped with an innovative integrated weapons system in Scorpion tower.

It is a key tool for pressure and important decisions in the army," Tank regiment on social networks. Peter Suchyu is a journalist from Michigan. During his twenty -year journalistic career, he participated in the work of more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites, publishing more than 3,200 materials. He regularly writes about military equipment, firearms, cybersecurity, politics and international affairs. Peter is also the author of articles for Forbes and Clerance Jobs.