KNDS France qualifies its latest 120 mm tank ammunition for Leopard 2 use
Now a single company, KNDS aims at becoming a one-stop-shop for its MBT customers, hence the recent tests carried out by KNDS France to check the compatibility of its latest 120 mm ammunition on Leopard 2 MBTs, live firing sessions being carried out in Portugal
“We seriously started working on reaching the compatibility certificate between our latest ammunition and the Leopard 2 main battle tank around three years ago,” Florent B., product line manager for 120 mm tank ammunition at KNDS France tells EDR On-Line. Phase 1 started in 2021 and was mostly aimed at verifying compatibility based on design and dimensions, while 2022-2023 saw bench-test firings from 120 mm/L44 and 120 mm/L55 smooth-bore guns. The shorter length gun is installed on Leopard 2A4/A5 MBTs while the 55-calibre arms Leopard 2A6/A7/A8 tanks.
The three types of ammunition concerned by the tests were the 120 mm HE, the 120 mm HEAT-TP and, of course, the very latest development in the kinetic energy field, the 120 mm APFSDS “SHARD”.
The work done during bench tests allowed to establish the different muzzle velocities (V0) with the two guns of different barrel lengths, compared to those obtained with the GIAT CN120-26/52 gun installed on the French Leclerc MBT, for which KNDS France ammunition were developed. Muzzle velocity is not a key issue for HE and HEAT rounds in terms of lethality, the main impact of the V0 being that on ballistic tables, but it becomes important for APFSDS rounds as it is linked to the impact velocity at target, which means the energy discharged on the tank armour, KE being however far from being the only parameter that affects penetration. According to company documents V0 at 21°C for the APFSDS-TP is 1,750 m/s while for the SHARD this is 1,720 m/s. The 30 m/s gap for the latest KE round developed at the La Chapelle-Saint-Ursin ammunition plant show well how much other elements influence the round lethality, KNDS France declaring a 10% increase in penetration performances versus the most widely used KE ammunition and 5-10% against the very latest developments.
In fact, the terminal efficiency of an APFSDS is a balance between the penetrator length and impact velocity, and SHARD is the result of an optimization of these parameters. The lower V0 of the SHARD was a deliberate choice, as reducing muzzle velocity and chamber pressure, 520 MPa at 21°C according to information previously provided by KNDS Ammo France, the company aimed at considerably reducing the barrel wear, Florent B. explained. The SHARD sabot has an optimized shape, which allows reducing its mass, the energy loss due to that parameter being around 10% of the chemical energy of the propulsion charge in a standard APFSDS round, while the aerodynamic drag is responsible for around the 3% of energy loss. The length of the penetrator is another key parameter that affects penetration; indeed, the length increase of the rod has a direct impact on the mechanical interaction between the round and the armour, and the terminal efficiency. The penetrator materiel is another key parameter, the tungsten alloy composition influencing mass, hardness, and allowable length increase. A considerable work was also made in cooperation with Eurenco, a sister company of KNDS France, in developing a specific propellant powder for the SHARD, that company being also responsible for producing the SHARD combustible case.
KNDS France experts were quite confident about the compatibility of their SHARD munition with other tanks, namely the Leopard 2, as the new round was developed not only according to NATO STANAG 4385 (120mm x 570 Ammunition for Smooth Bore Tank Guns) but also following the German-US 120 mm Interface Control Document (ICD). However, after bench tests, which confirmed simulation forecast with ± 2m/s accuracy according to Florent B., all this had to be proved on a real Leopard 2 tank.
Tests were carried out in early October 2024 at the Alcochete Field Firing Range, 40 km north-east of Lisbon, a facility belonging to the Portuguese Air Force which was previously used by KNDS on many occasions. KNDS hired two Leopard 2A6 from the Portuguese Army, therefore tests were done using the L55 version of the gun.
One of the tanks was used for static tests. KNDS France wanted to verify a series of issues such as the capacity of a round to remain fully efficient after having been loaded and unloaded five times from the gun breach. Another issue was the loading of ammunition in the main storage rack, located on the left side of the turret bustle, and in the secondary one, on the left side of the driver, these rounds having been tested until now on the Leclerc, which is fitted with an automatic loader.
The second Leopard 2A6 was used for firing tests. Of course, these tests allowed to further verify muzzle velocity, however KNDS main objectives were to check the toxicity inside the tank, specific sensors being therefore installed, as well as overpressure around the tank, external sensors being used, the latter measurements aimed at verifying safety distances for infantry personnel operating close to the MBT. Temperature issues were also considered, for each one of the four types of rounds considered three sessions being fired, each with seven rounds; ammunition were put into climatic chambers respectively at the extreme temperatures considered, -40°C and +63°C, as well as at the reference temperature of 21°C. Dispersion on a target at 1,500 metres range was also verified.
EDR On-Line understood that tests were successful, and now KNDS France and KNDS Germany are busy in preparing all compatibility documents. These will allow KNDS to present itself as a one-stop-shop for a tank customer that intends deploying the latest capabilities in terms of performances, especially when considering KE rounds.
A demonstration of the SHARD APFSDS munition was organised in September 2023, which marked the start for the company marketing effort for that product. The tests on the Leopard 2 tank open new markets, with interesting prospects in Europe, two countries having shown strong interest, as well as in Asia. The fact that the SHARD can be used in both the L44 and L55 guns marks a plus, as other state-of-the-art ammunition, which performances are mostly based on an increase in chamber pressure, can only be used in the latest L55 and L55A1 versions of the 120 mm smoothbore gun. As an example, Greece fields a mix of Leopard 2A6 and Leopard 2A4, respectively with L55 and L44 guns, while the Czech Republic has in service the Leopard 2A4 and has on order the Leopard 2A8. Both countries might find a solution in the 120 mm SHARD APFSDS round to optimise their tank performances while maintaining a common logistic.
As for production rate, the request for tank ammunition is much different compared to that for artillery rounds; EDR On-Line understood that most if not all subcomponents, starting from the tungsten rod, are produced in France, therefore manufacturing should not be an issue should numerous export customers file contracts. Moreover, KNDS is ready to answer localisation obligations, creating an in-country assembly line should this be a requirement.
Photos and images courtesy KNDS France
