The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) selects the SHARD new-generation armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) round

17 February 2026 – The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has placed an order with KNDS Ammo France for several thousand SHARD APFSDS rounds.

Developed to meet the demands of high-intensity combat, SHARD is fully compatible with all NATO 120mm smoothbore gun platforms, including the Leclerc, Leopard 2, and Abrams tanks. Thanks to its innovative and optimized design, this round offers improved accuracy and increased penetration against modern main battle tanks. Its redesigned construction also reduces barrel wear during firing, extending the service life of systems using SHARD.

SHARD’s performance has been successfully validated in trials conducted on the Leclerc and Leopard 2 tanks, confirming its high level of operational effectiveness.

With SHARD, KNDS Ammo France provides the French cavalry with a decisive operational advantage, reinforcing the superiority of armoured forces on modern battlefields and contributing directly to the sovereignty and credibility of French defence.

Source DGA

Unofficial translation by EDR On-Line

File photo courtesy KNDS