“Next-Gen Armored Warfare: Pioneering Tomorrow’s Battle Tank Technology”

Leveraging its prowess in combat tank armaments, showcased by the Leclerc’s autoloading cannon, and on the excellence of its munitions operations, Nexter (part of the KNDS group) is unveiling a pioneering main armament concept for primary combat tanks, designed to confront forthcoming heavily armoured threats. This innovative weapon marks a significant contribution from the French defense industry, culminating in a joint development: a new universal solution for both France and Germany that enhances the efficacy of distributed efforts and equitably shared skills within the European Defense Technological and Industrial Base (DTIB).

By 2040-2050, allied nations are likely to encounter a resurgence of high-intensity conflicts. In the ground arena, military forces will need to furnish themselves with cutting-edge means for tactical dominance, whether crewed or automated, integrating a variety of systems, achieving the utmost levels of protection for personnel and the capability to neutralize adversaries. In the face of numerous and resilient threats, achieving victory from the onset will necessitate firing faster, farther, and with greater destructive capacity on the initial shot, while minimizing logistical and ergonomic challenges.

Next-gen large-caliber munitions must ensure that armed forces maintain tactical superiority not only in the near future (2035) but also for the ensuing decades. To fulfill this ambitious goal, Nexter is crafting an avant-garde concept that has the potential to evolve and deliver capabilities that existing technologies can no longer provide. Drawing from its extensive experience with the 120mm smoothbore cannon of the Leclerc tank, its expertise in telescoped munitions, as well as the knowledge gained during firing trials with a 140mm caliber, Nexter is introducing the ASCALON concept (“Autoloaded and SCALable Outperforming guN”), designed to address the latest generation of heavy armor while maintaining an edge over the threats of the upcoming half-century.

Grounded in technical solutions that will reach full maturity by 2025, ASCALON features an open architecture designed to serve as the foundation for collaborative development under the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) initiative. This concept establishes the groundwork for the future European battle tank armament and ammunition standard, drawing on past collaborations with partners, such as in the 140mm FTMA gun initiative.

Thanks to its innovative features, ASCALON is distinguished by:

• A broad selection of terminal effects: the enlarged caliber enhances the arsenal of munitions for optimal impact on the target by utilizing rods of unparalleled length. It also allows for the development of intelligent munitions for firing beyond line of sight (BLOS/NLOS), which will deliver new capabilities while reducing the tank’s vulnerability.
• Streamlined ammunition: with a maximum length of 130 cm, ASCALON’s telescoped munitions will be more compact than standard caliber alternatives. It can be stored and integrated within a self-loading turret, a technology expertly managed by Nexter and proven over many years on the Leclerc tank.
• Enhanced firepower: the optimized chamber offers remarkable operational performance, achieving energy levels near 10 megajoules for kinetic munitions, while remaining below the internal pressure limits of current calibers. This untapped potential will allow the weapon to advance to a performance class of 13 megajoules capable of tackling any threat for the next 50 years.
• A controlled blast effect: a groundbreaking muzzle brake, tailored external pressure fields, and an optimized firing impulse will significantly mitigate the blast effect of the shot. ASCALON will thus facilitate the presence of infantry in the proximity of the tank for integrated combat operations, especially in urban environments.
• Outstanding integration potential: thanks to a regulated impulse, ASCALON will possess a recoil and acceleration force compatible with mobile and deployable platforms weighing less than 50 tonnes, while retaining the vehicle’s layout capabilities.

Capitalizing on Nexter’s extensive experience in tank cannons and telescoped munitions, and offering an architecture that fosters balanced industrial collaboration, the ASCALON concept is equipped with all the attributes necessary to become the standard cannon for future heavy battle tanks. Its dedicated munition signifies the only technological and tactical superiority for the coming decades. ASCALON is an innovative weapon poised to enhance next-generation land combat systems.