Leclerc AZUR. Tank for the city
At Eurosatory 2006, GIAT Industries (now Nexter) presented a draft of measures to improve the protection of the AMX-56 Leclerc tank and increase its combat potential. The AZUR equipment complex (Actions en Zone Urbaine) was developed on GIAT's own initiative, although after consulting with a potential buyer. Soon after the demonstration at the exhibition, the prototype of Leclerc-AZUR was handed over to military tests, and since then significant News about the fate of the kit was not. At the same time, statements by the French military in 2006 suggest that AZUR will go into production, although the timing is unknown. Last year, there was a rumor about the start of deliveries of modernized Leclerks until the end of 2011, but he remained a rumor. It is also unknown whether to expect the delivery of the AZUR kit to the United Arab Emirates, which are armed with about four hundred Leclerks.
The AZUR kit is made according to a modular scheme, which facilitates the use and installation. GIAT claims that the installation of all modules provided by the project, in terms of the average military workshop, takes no more than 12 hours. But despite such terms of installation, AZUR includes a fairly large number of various components and assemblies, from additional protection to on-board electronics.
To increase the level of protection for the crew and vital units, the Leclerc AZUR received new bulwarks from composite armor, and the aft part with the engine-transmission compartment was closed with several anti-cumulative grilles along the sides and an armor plate on top. Also, the gratings were attached to the back of the tower. Thus, Leclerc AZUR becomes much more resistant to reactive anti-tank grenade launchers and incendiary bottles. However, the first echelon of tank protection from grenade launchers is a 7,62-mm machine gun mounted on a remote-controlled turret. In many tanks of the world, larger-caliber machine guns are used, but French engineers decided to limit themselves to the "three-line" weapons. The fact is that in the conditions of urban combat, according to their calculations, machine guns do not require large-caliber power, but they need the appropriate ammunition. Therefore, we stopped on the caliber 7,62 millimeter. And for the convenience of detecting targets, the Commander panoramic periscope was updated. Finally, for the standard smooth-bore gun GIAT CN120-26 / 52 developed a new ammunition 120HEF1. This projectile is interesting in that, if necessary, it can be used not only as a cumulative (this is its design), but also as a high-explosive. To perform a new role, a relatively thick shell was added to the standard cumulative projectile, which is torn apart into fragments, while the 120HEF1 fuse allows you to initiate a charge detonation with a delay. An interesting improvement, but, probably, it would be better to use specialized ammunition for a specific purpose, and not to engage in such “unification”. But the French military leadership, it seems, considers the shell promising - the bill of ordered 120HEF1 is already going to tens of thousands. A new function in GIAT Industries was invented for the smoke grenade launcher: instead of the standard smoke grenade, you can load a fragmentation Galix 4 into it.
Major changes have undergone tank equipment. A radically new introduction to its structure was a warning system that an object was approaching a tank. Special detectors (radar is mentioned in open sources, although it may be ultrasonic equipment) are able to detect various objects, including enemy soldiers, who approached the tank directly and are out of sight of its optical instruments. Another innovation in onboard electronics concerns communications. In urban operations, the need to maintain communication between tank crews and infantrymen is particularly pronounced. Often used for this wired telephone systems. But for obvious reasons, this method of communication is extremely inconvenient. To replace the old wired systems, the French military wanted to have wireless with encrypted signal. GIAT Industries originally approached the task: their engineers created a communication system based on Wi-Fi technology.
Another point in which the concern of the AZUR kit for infantrymen was shown is in the new way of using brackets for attaching additional fuel tanks (located in the aft part of Leclerc). Since urban operations do not require a large amount of fuel, instead of tanks, lightly armored ducts are installed on the brackets. They can put ammunition, additional weapons, provisions or any other load for the infantry. In addition, with some ingenuity, a soldier can use a box as a seat for a trip to the battlefield.
The rest of the design of the tank "Leclerc" remained unchanged. Because of this, the authors of AZUR say, any armored vehicle of this brand can be converted into a street combat configuration. However, the addition of a full set of modules provided by the project, significantly increases the weight of the tank. Even the fact that some of the modules are installed instead of the existing nodes does not greatly affect the weight gain. But in GIAT Industries immediately found an explanation, an excuse for this. Yes, the weight has increased, yes, the driving characteristics and mobility have deteriorated. But the city does not need to travel over rough terrain. Yes, and accelerate to speeds at which the difference in weight will be noticeable, in the "Zone Urbaine" is not necessary. Well, in the transition of hostilities outside the city of AZUR can be dismantled. You will tell nothing, logical reasonings. How true they are, must show practice.
Almost six years have passed since the first demonstration of the Leclerc AZUR tank. It is unlikely that during this time, first GIAT Industries, and then Nexter sat idle. From time to time, news appears about their work in the field of non-lethal weapons, new ammunition for existing ones, as well as systems to enhance the protection of armored vehicles. It is quite possible that we will see some of these developments on future updates of AZUR.
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