skip to main content

France orders 100 upgraded Leclerc XLR tanks

By Nicholas Fiorenza |

France's DGA has ordered 100 more upgraded Leclerc XLR MBTs, bringing the total being procured to 200. (STAT/French Army/Antoine Siffroi)

The Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, announced on 28 January that it had ordered 100 more upgraded Leclerc XLR main battle tanks (MBTs) on 24 December 2024. With orders for 50 Leclerc XLRs each in 2021 and 2022, this will bring the total number being procured to 200.

Under France's Loi de Programmation Militaire 2024–2030 military funding programme approved in July 2024, 160 Leclerc XLRs are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2030 and 40 by the end of 2035. The DGA delivered the 34th Leclerc MBT to the French Army on 10 December, bringing the total delivered in 2024 to 21. The first prototype of the upgraded tank, designated Leclerc XLR, was delivered to the DGA at the end of 2022.

The Leclerc XLR is equipped with vetronics, the SCORPION combat information system (SICS), CONTACT digital radio, and GPS so it can communicate in real time on the tactical situation with other SCORPION vehicles: Griffon 6×6 Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle (VBMR) heavy multirole armoured vehicles, 300 Jaguar 6×6 armoured reconnaissance vehicles, and Serval Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle Léger (VBMR-L) 4×4 light multirole armoured vehicles. SICS and CONTACT will allow voice and data to be exchanged simultaneously among network subscribers, vehicles, dismounted soldiers, and Tigre (Tiger) Mk 3 attack helicopters.

Looking to read the full article?

Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...