KNDS has secured the qualification of its new-generation 120 mm APFSDS-type (Armour Piercing Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot) ammunition SHARD in late 2023.

According to the company, the armour-piercing kinetic energy penetrator ammunition SHARD is the solution for all NATO 120 mm main battle tanks (MBTs) to defeat modern MBTs as well as future threats thanks to increased firepower and piercing capacity (+15%). This high performance is the result of an innovative design that offers excellent accuracy and reduces barrel wear by 25% at the same time.

The company also stated that SHARD was designed by KNDS to bring 120mm APFSDS tungsten alloy ammunition to the next level of performance against all modern Main Battle Tanks and armoured threats both in the present and future battlefields.

Briefly, SHARD’s capacities and characteristics are as follows:

• Armour penetration is increased by 15% ensuring a low level of dispersion.
• Barrel wear is reduced by 25% which also reduces maintenance cycles and costs.
• A muzzle velocity of 1720 m/s with the Leclerc L52 gun and 1734 m/s with the Leopard 2 L55 gun.
• Optimized design and a lighter aluminium sabot.
• An elongated penetrator in a new high-performance tungsten alloy has been designed with Plansee which specializes in the manufacturing of parts of projectiles.
• Proven and compliant with EU’s regulation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) propulsion system that ensures the excellent velocity of the ammunition.

SHARD is an ammunition already available for all NATO tanks and compatible with all NATO smoothbore 120mm gun tanks including the Leclerc, Leopard 2, M1 Abrams, Ariete and Centauro 2.

A demonstration for Leclerc and Leopard 2 users was organized in late 2023 in Alcochete, Portugal. Its 15% performance increase was demonstrated with successful firing tests performed on semi-infinite RHA targets. 

Demonstrations and contract negotiations for various countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia are ongoing with SHARD being now ready for mass production.

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