Ukraine asks France to supply Leclerc main battle tanks


Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal addressed the French government with a request for supplying Leclerc main battle tanks, on top of as many weapons and ammunition as possible. Novosti news agency writes that, apparently, Ukraine decided to switch to France after receiving a refusal from the Germans to supply Leopard 2 tanks, although this looks useless, as the French are unlikely to supply their tanks for the French army does not have enough to cede.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link


Army Recognition Global Defense and Security news
 With production now complete, the French Army operates 222 Leclerc MBTs (with 184 more in storage for a total of 406), while the United Arab Emirates army possesses 388 (Picture source: Army Recognition)


Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that Kyiv had not been able to obtain the supply of Leopard 2 tanks from the German government. Even the statements that the United States allegedly approved the transfer of tanks to Ukraine, as reported by the German press, did not help. The Germans are categorically opposed to German tanks fighting in Ukraine, rightly believing that the Americans could supply Kyiv with their M1 Abrams.

The Leclerc is a third-generation main battle tank developed and manufactured by Nexter Systems. It was named in honor of Marshal Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, a commander of the Free French Forces, who led the 2nd Armoured Division in World War II (known in French as the 2e DB).

The Leclerc is in service with the French Army, Jordanian Army and the United Arab Emirates Army. In production since 1991, the Leclerc entered French service in 1992, replacing the AMX 30B2 as the country's main armored platform. With production now complete, the French Army operates 222 Leclercs (with 184 more in storage for a total of 406), while the United Arab Emirates Army possesses 388. Of the units in French service, 200 will be upgraded to the XLR standard with deliveries expected to begin in 2022.

To date, France has delivered 18 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, and promised to supply 6 more from a batch produced for the Danish Armed Forces. In addition, Paris approved the transfer to Kyiv of six 155 mm TRF1 towed howitzers, which were put into service in 1979.