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Leclerc XLR Tank Tests Anti-Drone And Anti-Mine Kit In Franco-Swiss Live Fire Drills.
During the Franco‑Swiss live‑fire drills in Hinterrhein, the French Army’s 5th Dragoon Regiment deployed Leclerc XLR tanks alongside Switzerland’s 17th Mechanized Battalion to test advanced protective systems in alpine conditions. The exercise highlighted the Leclerc XLR’s experimental anti‑drone and anti‑mine kit, modular armor, and battlefield adaptability.
On November 17, 2025, a significant joint military exercise took place in Hinterrhein. The French 5th Dragoon Regiment deployed its cutting-edge Leclerc XLR tanks to work alongside Switzerland's 17th Mechanized Battalion. This combined live-fire exercise was specifically designed to test protective measures and operational readiness in the demanding alpine conditions, a deployment officially reported by the French Army. The training drew attention because one Leclerc XLR appeared in an experimental configuration combining a cope‑cage anti‑drone screen with additional anti‑mine and anti‑RPG modules. The trial, conducted alongside Swiss Leopard 2s and including roughly 300 kinetic rounds, offers a rare view of how Western armored forces are rapidly translating battlefield lessons into field modifications.
A Leclerc XLR tank fitted with cope‑cage armor and modular protection advances through rugged alpine terrain during joint Franco‑Swiss drills (Picture Source: French MoD)
The Leclerc XLR represents the latest evolution of the Leclerc family, built around a digitally networked chassis that combines an autoloaded 120 mm main gun with upgraded sensors, a modern fire-control system and modular protection kits. The configuration tested at Hinterrhein preserved the tank’s hallmark mobility while integrating add-on passive measures intended to counter small UAS and reduce the effects of mine blasts. This experimental package underlines a logic of rapid adaptation, with mechanical cages and reinforced belly and side plates that can be fitted or removed according to the threat environment and mission profile.
From an operational perspective, the XLR program follows an iterative development path. Upgrades rolled out to units since 2024–2025 have concentrated on electronics, networking and survivability, with front-line regiments and industry partners refining solutions through live experimentation. The Hinterrhein exercise is noteworthy in this regard, as it marked the first time an XLR in experimental anti-drone/anti-mine configuration was paired with Leopard 2s in live-fire conditions, enabling direct cross-platform comparisons under realistic terrain and weather constraints. This kind of field evaluation helps close the loop between engineering choices, doctrinal concepts and user feedback, shortening the cycle from prototype to practical enhancement.
Compared with other contemporary main battle tank upgrade paths, the XLR approach prioritizes modular and pragmatic measures. While some modern Leopard 2 derivatives emphasize heavier passive armor packages or fully integrated active protection systems combined with electronic counter-UAS suites, the XLR configuration trialed in Switzerland focused on rapidly deployable mechanical solutions and additional mine protection. This trade-off helps preserve the platform’s mobility and simplifies integration, while still providing a meaningful increase in crew protection against specific, widespread threats such as small drones, RPGs and buried explosives.
Strategically, the deployment of advanced capabilities, like the Leclerc XLR tanks, into neutral Swiss territory sends a clear message about interoperability and shared threat responses among European partners, elevating collective confidence in modular protection strategies by demonstrating solutions can be evaluated and potentially adopted in multinational formations. Militarily, the exercise's emphasis on counter-UAS and mine-resilience directly shapes doctrine for maneuver in contested, hybrid environments, requiring units to seamlessly combine passive fitments, active detection, electronic warfare, and route-clearance tactics. Logistically and doctrinally, adopting modular armor reduces the time from concept to fielding but increases the demands on maintenance and training; consequently, integrated training on standardized mounting procedures is crucial to ensure passive mechanical solutions effectively complement electronic and hard-kill defenses, proving that exercises like Hinterrhein are as vital for refining combined-arms procedures under stress as they are for test-fitting new hardware.
The Leclerc XLR’s alpine test illustrates a pragmatic path for armored forces confronting contemporary threats: combine digital networking and modern sensors with mission‑tailored, quickly deployable protective kits to preserve mobility and enhance survivability. That pragmatic layering, tested and validated in multinational live fire, will shape how European armored units prepare for the next generation of conflict, balancing speed of adaptation with the need for interoperable, doctrine‑driven protection.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.