French army shows Leclerc tank with once-mocked anti-drone cage
AI Analysis
The French Army is fielding roof-mounted 'cope cages' on its Leclerc tanks, initially mocked as ineffective, but now recognized as a practical counter-drone measure. This is part of the broader Scorpion modernization program, aiming to extend the Leclerc's service life and inform the development of the future Main Ground Combat System (MGCS). The MGCS is envisioned as a networked system incorporating drones and robotic elements, arriving around 2045.
Key Takeaways
- French Army is deploying roof-mounted cage armor on Leclerc tanks to counter drone threats.
- The cage armor is being manufactured by KNDS France following a successful prototype developed by the Army's STAT section.
- The Leclerc tank is undergoing a broader modernization as part of the Scorpion program, including new computers, armor, and a remotely operated turret.
- France anticipates replacing the Leclerc tank with an interim capability before the MGCS arrives around 2045.
- The MGCS will be a networked system of systems leveraging AI and incorporating drones/robotics.
Why It Matters
The adoption of 'cope cages' demonstrates a pragmatic response to the evolving drone threat and a shift in thinking regarding low-tech counter-UAS solutions. The focus on networked systems and robotic integration within the MGCS highlights the future of armored warfare, emphasizing the need for combined arms capabilities to address increasingly sophisticated threats. This signals a broader trend of adapting existing platforms to counter drone warfare.
PARIS — The French Army showed off an upgraded Leclerc XLR main battle tank fitted with roof-mounted cage armor, a protective measure widely mocked on social media as “cope cages” when similar structures appeared on Russian tanks during the opening months of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but which has since proven useful against drones on the modern battlefield.
The French Army technical section built a prototype of the metal cage, which is now being manufactured by KNDS France and in the process of being delivered to the tank units, said Gen. Olivier Coquet, head of the section known as STAT, in a briefing with reporters at the Eurosatory defense show near Paris on Sunday.
Roof-mounted armor variants have been adopted by both Russian and Ukrainian forces as drone threats proliferate.
The Leclerc is being upgraded as part of France’s Scorpion armored-vehicle modernization program, which includes equipping the French heaviest armored unit with new computers, additional armor and a remotely operated turret to operate in urban areas, according to Coquet. The Leclerc has a 120 mm cannon and an autoloader, with a crew of three.
France’s main battle tank will be reaching the end of its service life by 2035, and the Army plans to acquire an interim capability to bridge the gap between the end of the Leclerc and the arrival of the Main Ground Combat System, Coquet said. The joint MGCS project is more likely to arrive towards 2045, according to the head of the STAT.
“We already have some ideas, we know full well that it won’t be an exact copy of the Leclerc tank. There will be drones operating alongside it, and we know there will be a robotic element,” said Gen. Philippe de Montenon, the commander of the French land forces and operations, in the same briefing.
The planned MGCS will “clearly” not be just a tank but a networked system of systems with artificial intelligence, and the interim capability will be a “first building block of the MGCS,” according to Coquet. “So that’s what we’re looking for.”
Rudy Ruitenberg is a Europe correspondent for Defense News. He started his career at Bloomberg News and has experience reporting on technology, commodity markets and politics.