Belgian Company Army Recognition Group presents its first Web TV Series, "Most Modern Main Battle Tanks in the world", including 7 episodes. Even if many countries have got rid of their main battle tanks to rely only on 6x6 or 8x8 combat vehicles, it appears that, in some circumstances, the need for heavy, medium, or so-called light tanks remains blatant. So, Army Recognition starts broadcasting a web series of video presentations dedicated to a selection of main battle tanks among the most modern ones in the world.
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Web TV Series "Most Modern Main Battle Tanks" produced by Army Recognition Group. (Picture source Army Recognition Group)
For the first episode of our "Most Modern MBT Main Battle Tank" series, we present the Russian T-14 Armata, the Leopard 2A7, and the French Leclerc, plus its XLR upgraded version intended to fit into the Scorpion program, along with other armored vehicles.
The T-14 Armata has been designed by the Russian defense company Uralvagonzavod. Its development started in 2013, followed by the delivery of a first prototype in 2015. The tank was unveiled to the public during the military parade in Moscow for the Victory Day, on the 9th of May 2015. The first field test of the T-14 was performed in 2014. Initially, a total of 2,300 tanks was expected to be supplied by 2020 but this figure was since invalidated. Production and fiscal shortfalls delayed this to 2025, and then to the cancellation of the main production run. The test batch of 100 is to be delivered and deployed to the 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Motor Rifle Division, with delivery expected in 2020 or later.
T-14 Armata Technical Review - Fact Sheet at this link
The 64.5-ton Leopard 2A7 is a modernized version of the German-made Leopard 2A6 main battle tank. The main features of this new upgrade of the Leopard 2 tank include a new armor, an energy supplier system, and a new weapon engagement system. The Leopard 2A7 differs from the 2A7+ variant and is not optimized for urban warfare. The first tanks were delivered to the German army in December 2014. On May 2017, Kraus-Maffei Wegmann signed a contract to upgrade the then 20 existing Leopard 2A7s into the 2A7V variant.
Leopard 2A7 Technical Review - Fact Sheet at this link
The Leclerc is a main battle tank designed, developed and manufactured by the French company Nexter Systems – at that time named Giat Industries – in view of replacing the old AMX-30. It was named in honor of General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque in command of the Free French 2nd Armored Division (the 2e DB) in World War II. The first production Leclerc was completed in December 1991 and delivered to the French Army on the 14th of January 1992. The French Army operates a total of 406 Leclerc and the United Arab Emirates army has 388 ones.
Leclerc Nexter Systems Technical Review - Fact Sheet at this link
The Leclerc XLR is a modernized version of the Leclerc and will have a combat weight of 57 tons. Valued at approximately 330 million €, the contract provided for the delivery of 200 "Renovated Leclerc" tanks and 18 "Renovated DCL" armored recovery vehicles based on the Leclerc MBT from 2020. The aim of this program is to maintain the Leclerc in service with the French Armed forces beyond 2040. The first two prototypes were planned to be completed in 2018 and the remaining 198 units will be upgraded from 2020 through to 2028.
Leclerc XLR Technical Review - Fact Sheet at this link
If you are not yet a subscriber to Army Recognition’s Defense Web TV, we warmly recommend you to become one. And do not forget to hit the bell to be notified about the broadcasting of the new MBT web series episodes! Episode 2 will present the American M1A2C Abrams, the Chinese Type 99 and the Iranian Karar.
