France and Germany jointly presented their “tank of the future”: a combination of Leopard 2 and Leclerc (photos, video)
Geopolitical changes and technological progress force countries to constantly improve their military equipment. France and Germany, two of the leading European powers, have presented a new generation EMBT (European Main Battle Tank) tank that incorporates the best features and capabilities of the Leopard 2 and Leclerc tanks. Its development was part of the MGCS (Main Ground Combat System) program, which aims to create a new generation of battle tanks for European armies.
EMBT is a kind of symbiosis of Leclerc and Leopard 2 tanks, representing a new generation of combat vehicles created in cooperation between two large defense companies – KMW (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann) from Germany and NEXTER Defense Systems from France. This project is a symbol of the cooperation between the two countries in the defense industry and their desire to create a new tank that meets modern requirements.
The chassis of the EMBT tank is based on the Leopard 2A7, one of the most advanced modifications of the German Leopard 2 tank. It is equipped with a powerful 1500-horsepower MTU 883 EPP engine, which provides very good mobility and cross-country ability. The modified turret of the Leclerc tank, including the 120 mm L52 gun with automatic loading device, was integrated into the EMBT project. This allows the tank to have high firepower and accuracy, as well as potentially use a 140 mm gun, making it more versatile in terms of ammunition selection.
Additionally, the EMBT can be equipped with the ARX-30 combat module, armed with a 30 mm cannon designed to engage air targets, as well as 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns to provide protection against infantry and small unmanned aerial vehicles. This range of weapons makes the EMBT multitasking and able to effectively combat various types of threats.
However, weapons and mobility are not the only advantages of the EMBT tank. It also has a high level of security. In particular, the tank is reinforced with dynamic protection that can provide protection against shells and missiles, as well as the Israeli-made Trophy active defense system, which is capable of intercepting missiles and shells near the tank. The EMBT is equipped with the E-LAWS laser warning system, which is able to respond to detection and warn the crew of possible dangers.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the EMBT tank:
- weight – 61.5 tons;
- length – 10.45 m;
- width – 3.85 m;
- height – 3.24 m;
- maximum speed (on the highway) – 65 km/h;
- range (on the highway) – 460 km;
- crew – 4 people;
- Ammunition – 22 rounds of ammunition.
