Char Leclerc

Designed to destroy hordes of Soviet tanks on the plains of Germany, the Leclerc set the bar so high that, forty years after its design, engineers around the world still dream of matching it when designing a new tank. Hitting seven moving targets at a range of up to 3,000 metres within a minute whilst travelling at 50 km/h over rough terrain is a feat achievable only with exceptional technology. Thanks to its modular design, the Leclerc is already ready to fight alongside robots, drones and digitised infantry, all linked together via a tactical intranet.

Drawing on previously classified archives and the recollections of those involved in the programme, the author – who was himself deeply involved in the project for over twelve years – has written this definitive work, which traces the history of the development, the behind-the-scenes story of Franco-German cooperation, and an examination of all versions, including those that have remained secret within the design offices to this day. As preparations are underway for the next generation of land superiority armoured vehicles, this book offers a fresh perspective on the most formidable of modern battle tanks.

The author
A military engineer by training, Marc Chassillan is a lecturer at ENSTA, and has taught at EMSST in Paris and at the Armoured Forces Academy in Abu Dhabi. He has published numerous books, opinion pieces and articles on weapons systems and contributes to a wide range of specialist journals. He is a radio and TV consultant and features in numerous television documentaries on the history of armaments. He served as a trustee of the Saumur Armoured Vehicles Museum and as a member of the scientific council for the IHEDN’s Chair in Defence Economics. He is a Knight of the National Order of Merit.