The European International Defense Exhibition, which is held every two years, is one of the most important professional exhibitions in the defense field. This year, a total of 62 countries participated in the exhibition. Among them, more than 70% of the exhibitors were from Europe. China North Industries Group also participated in the exhibition and brought some ground Equip the model. Due to the tense situation in the European region, this year, many European exhibitors displayed the main battle tanks developed by Europe, setting off the European “Next Generation Tank Trend”.
According to the US media “Defense News”, Germany’s Rheinmetall showed the new KF51 “Black Panther” main battle tank, and the French Nexter Group showed its new “Leclerc” XLR main battle tank and optional upgraded “Ar Scalon” 140mm gun, KNDS Defense Group, a joint venture between Germany’s KMW and France’s Nexter, demonstrated the “Enhanced Main Battle Tank” (EMBT). In addition to the fourth generation of tanks, Rheinmetall also showed improved versions of contemporary tanks such as the improved Leopard 2A7 main battle tank, as well as new ground equipment concepts such as the “Boxer Assault Vehicle”.
Compared with the previous tanks, the mobility performance and passive protection methods of the next-generation tanks unveiled at the European Defense Exhibition have not been significantly improved, but the firepower system, active protection system and situational awareness level have been mainly improved. European next-generation tanks generally use larger-caliber artillery, attach importance to direct sight and increase the launch function of drones, information capabilities and active protection systems.
German company Rheinmetall showed a real model of the new KF51 “Panther” main battle tank, and said that the “Panther” is a “new main battle tank concept”, if the KF51 is selected as the next generation in Europe For the tank system, serial production could begin in two and a half years. This 59-ton main battle tank uses the Leopard 2A4 chassis, but uses an unprecedented 130mm caliber “Future Gun System” (FGS).
As a concept car, the KF51 pays more attention to active protection, and the current fashionable ADS active protection system and other soft protection systems are installed on the front, sides and top of the turret. In terms of sensors, KF51 is also equipped with SEOSS-2P commander’s stabilized photoelectric sighting system and Hensold’s EMES-15 gunner’s sight. Both types of sights use third-generation thermal imaging elements. KF51 can realize “J-J” and “Hunt-J” functions.
Exceptionally, the French Nexter Group (German-French cooperation company KNDS) showed its new “Leclerc” XLR main battle tank and a new 140mm “self-loading and scalable high-performance artillery”.
The “Leclerc” XLR main battle tank has upgraded firepower to fire the new 120mm SHARD stabilized shell-piercing shell and 120mm IM3M high-explosive multi-mode program design round. The SHARD tail stabilized shell-piercing projectile will replace the existing French OFL – 120 – F2 armor-piercing projectile, which has a longer armor-piercing body with the same muzzle velocity, and is optimized for various contemporary explosive reactive armors.
In addition to upgrading the firepower system, the “Leclerc” XLR has also focused on improving its informatization capabilities to support the informatization synthesis army reform “SCORPION” implemented by the French Army in recent years. The “Leclerc” XLR is equipped with the new “Scorpion” Combat Command System (SICS), the “contact” tactical radio system with an open electronic architecture, which can realize the networked and coordinated operations of various French equipment. In addition, the “Leclerc” XLR will also be equipped with an inertial navigation and GPS-coupled positioning system, a new commander and gunner man-machine interface, and a “barrage” anti-improvised explosive jamming system.
The French NEXTER company launched its new generation of 140mm “ASCALON” (ASCALON) smoothbore tank gun weapon system concept at the exhibition. (NLOS) Artillery-launched anti-tank missile.
In addition to the KF51 and the “Leclerc” XLR, the KNDS Defense Group, a joint venture between Germany’s KMW and France’s Nexter, showed a new “Enhanced Main Battle Tank” (EMBT), which was first exhibited four years ago. A new and improved version of the “Battle Tank” (EMBT).
Although the EMBT is equipped with an automatic loader, it still retains a fourth crew member to operate systems such as drones. In terms of protection performance, the EMBT turret is equipped with a “trophy VPS” active protection system and an IAI “windbreaker” detection radar and laser warning system.
According to “Defense News”, Germany’s Rheinmetall showed the new KF51 “Black Panther” main battle tank, and the French Nexter Group showed its new “Leclerc” XLR main battle tank and optional upgrades “Ascar” The KNDS Defense Group, a joint venture between Germany’s KMW and France’s Nexter, displayed the “Enhanced Main Battle Tank” (EMBT). In addition to the fourth generation of tanks, Rheinmetall also showed improved versions of contemporary tanks such as the improved Leopard 2A7 main battle tank, as well as new ground equipment concepts such as the “Boxer Assault Vehicle”.
As a concept car, the KF51 pays more attention to active protection, and the current fashionable ADS active protection system and other soft protection systems are installed on the front, sides and top of the turret. In terms of sensors, KF51 is also equipped with SEOSS-2P commander’s stabilized photoelectric sighting system and Hensold’s EMES-15 gunner’s sight. Both types of sights use third-generation thermal imaging elements. KF51 can realize “J-J” and “Hunt-J” functions.
The new and improved French “Leclerc” XLR main battle tank.Figure: Flip from Tencent.com