France has selected KNDS Ammo France to provide several thousand Shard next-generation kinetic-energy rounds for its upgraded Leclerc main battle tanks.
The contract, valued at over 100 million euros ($119 million) and structured as a seven-year framework agreement, foresees initial deliveries of the new armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) ammunition by mid-2029.
The program will be carried out in partnership with Eurenco, which will supply the double-base propellant and sabot components. Designed for the Leclerc XLR, the Shard round uses advanced tungsten penetrator technology and a dense proprietary alloy to significantly enhance armor penetration. Its higher muzzle velocity is intended to reduce the reaction time of hard-kill active protection systems, improving the probability of defeating heavily protected targets into the late 2030s.
