Leclerc Tank Downs Drone with Canister Round During Live-Fire Test

Leclerc Tank Trials and the New OEFC F1 Shell

According to НВ — Техно: On May 22, 2023, at 4:00 PM, a French Leclerc main battle tank successfully destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle using a 120 mm OEFC F1 canister round. The test was conducted in response to vulnerabilities in armored vehicles exposed by the Russian-Ukrainian war, which escalated in 2022. Developed by KNDS France, the OEFC F1 round disperses roughly 1,100 tungsten pellets, forming a lethal cloud to neutralize the target.

Technical Specifications and Training

The OEFC F1 projectile launches tungsten pellets at a high velocity of approximately 1,410 meters per second, with an effective range of 500 meters. The Leclerc’s main gun, a smoothbore CN120-26/52 model, fires this NATO-standard 120×570 mm round. The tank is assigned to the 5th Cuirassier Regiment, and the trials were overseen by the newly established Command Doctrine and Leadership Training Center (CCF), which was formed on August 1, 2023.

Military officials stated:

“The tests targeted vulnerabilities identified since 2022 in Ukraine, specifically the limited effectiveness of traditional armored defensive systems and machine guns against low-altitude FPV drones operating in close proximity to armored vehicles.”

This underscores the need to adapt military technology in response to evolving battlefield threats.

The CCF consolidates several key French army units, including:

• Command Doctrine and Leadership Training Center
• French Army Technical Department
• Army Combat Laboratory
• Scorpion Combat Expertise Force

These efforts aim to boost the performance of military systems in modern conflicts, where drones play an increasingly prominent role. The American startup Picket Defense Systems has also introduced a new turret called Inferno RTC, reflecting a broader push to upgrade military hardware amid growing threats.

The Leclerc tank trials and the introduction of the OEFC F1 round highlight the military’s growing focus on protecting armored vehicles from drone attacks. As drones become more common in contemporary warfare, adapting weapons and tactics is critical for mission effectiveness. The development of new technologies like the Inferno RTC turret further confirms a global trend toward modernizing army systems to counter new challenges on the battlefield.

As military technology continues to evolve in response to emerging threats, the deployment of innovative solutions is becoming increasingly critical. For instance, Ukraine has recently implemented an AI-driven turret system designed to effectively neutralize enemy drones. This highlights a broader trend in modern warfare, where nations are adapting their defense strategies to counteract the advancements in drone technology.