The French Army (Armée de terre) received the first modernized Leclerc main battle tank (XLR version).

The first Leclerc XLR was delivered to the 501st Armored Regiment (501e Régiment de Chars de Combat), which is based at Mourmelon-le-Grand in northeastern France.

The Leclerc XLR is a modernized version of the Series 2 and Series 3/XXI Leclerc tanks, with 200 of these vehicles scheduled to be modernized to the XLR version. This program provides for the upgrade of the armor, the electronic equipment and the electro-optics as well as the replacement of parts that are no longer in production, the shortages of which were noted in the French stocks.

The modernization of the Leclerc tanks to the XLR version is part of the wider SCORPION program, which includes, among others, a new communications system and a battle management system.

All Leclerc XLR vehicles, according to the program, are expected to be delivered to the French Army by 2029. The cost to upgrade 200 Leclercs to the XLR version and 18 Leclerc DCLs is estimated at 330 million euros. The total cost of the SCORPION program amounts to 6.8 billion euros.

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Also read: Leclerc XLR | The French Army’s Upgraded Battle Tank – Photos