Leclerc XLR

The modernized standard of France's Leclerc main battle tank, adding a new digital architecture, remote weapon station and improved protection against IEDs and mines. It keeps the Leclerc's distinctive autoloaded 120 mm gun and compact crew of three.

Max speed

72 km/h

Range

550 km

Combat weight

56,800 kg

💲 Approximate XLR upgrade cost per unit

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.: 72 km/h

73th pct in class
Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.: 550 km

73th pct in class
Power-to-weight Engine power per tonne of vehicle weight. Higher means better acceleration and cross-country mobility.: 27 hp/t

73th pct in class
Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration.: 1,750 m/s

29th pct in class

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.: 120 mm CN120-26/52 smoothbore (autoloaded)
Secondary armament Additional weapons: coaxial MG, remote weapon station, gun pods.: 12.7 mm + 7.62 mm machine guns
Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better — ammunition commonality matters.: 120 mm
Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity.: 40

0th pct in class

Protection

Armor, countermeasures and survivability.

Armor Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified.: Modular composite armor
Active protection Hard-kill APS (Trophy, Arena, Afganit) intercepts incoming projectiles before impact.: in evaluation
Reactive armor Explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks that disrupt shaped-charge jets.: No
Countermeasures Self-protection: chaff, flares, DIRCM, towed decoys, smoke dischargers, jammers.: smoke grenade launchers, GALIX defense system
NBC protection Sealed crew compartment with overpressure filtration for nuclear/biological/chemical environments.: Yes

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.: 9.87 m
Width Overall width — matters for rail/road transport of vehicles.: 3.71 m
Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles.: 2.53 m
Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.: 56,800 kg
Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.: 3

Propulsion

Engine, power and fuel.

Engine Powerplant model and type.: Wartsila-SACM V8X-1500 hyperbar diesel
Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster.: 1,500 hp

27th pct in class
Fuel capacity Internal fuel volume.: 1,300 L
Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…: Diesel

Sensors & avionics

Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.

Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights.: autoloader fire control, panoramic commander sight
Thermal imaging Thermal sights for night and obscured-visibility operations.: Yes

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper.: $9,000,000

38th pct in class
Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.: 200

36th pct in class
Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.: 2

55th pct in class

Specifications compiled from public KNDS and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-01.

Frequently asked questions

What is the top speed of the KNDS Leclerc XLR? +

The KNDS Leclerc XLR has a maximum speed of 72 km/h.

What is the range of the KNDS Leclerc XLR? +

The KNDS Leclerc XLR has a maximum range of 550 km.

How much does the KNDS Leclerc XLR weigh? +

The KNDS Leclerc XLR has a combat weight of 56,800 kg.

How many crew does the KNDS Leclerc XLR require? +

The KNDS Leclerc XLR requires a crew of 3.

What is the main armament of the KNDS Leclerc XLR? +

The KNDS Leclerc XLR's primary weapon is the 120 mm CN120-26/52 smoothbore (autoloaded).

What engine does the KNDS Leclerc XLR use? +

The KNDS Leclerc XLR is powered by the Wartsila-SACM V8X-1500 hyperbar diesel.

What is the KNDS Leclerc XLR used for? +

The KNDS Leclerc XLR is a main battle tank typically used for anti armor, infantry combat.

How many countries operate the KNDS Leclerc XLR? +

The KNDS Leclerc XLR is operated by 2 countries.

How much does the KNDS Leclerc XLR cost? +

The KNDS Leclerc XLR has an approximate unit cost of 9,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration — treat this as directional.