Today we’re checking out the new EMBT, which combines a Leopard chassis and a Leclerc turret!
EMBT: An MBT for Germany and France at Rank VIII
At a glance:
120 mm gun with an automatic loader
OFL 120 F1 APFSDS round
Excellent mobility
Vulnerable turret ring
The conceptual prototype of this European Main Battle Tank combines the tank-building expertise of two of Europe’s major nations, Germany and France. The EMBT combines the best of both worlds of the French Leclerc S2 turret and the German Leopard 2A7 chassis, let’s take a look!
The EMBT is a modern tank, featuring great mobility, a long-barreled 120 mm gun and an autoloader. It uses the same ammunition as the Leclerc S2, including the OFL 120 F1 APFSDS round. The tank inherits reinforced frontal hull armor from the Leopard and robust turret cheek armor from the Leclerc. It is powered by the Leopard 2A7’s engine, yet the new tank is approximately 4.5 tons lighter, further boosting its already impressive mobility. The vehicle is highly versatile, performing effectively in both defensive and offensive roles across all map types. Like all modern tanks however, the EMBT is especially vulnerable to tank shells and missiles striking its side profile. The turret ring area is also a weak point in the EMBT’s protection.Developer comment: As a joint German-French development, the EMBT will be placed at rank VIII for both nations. In the German research tree, the tank will continue the joint-development sub-branch following the American-German Leopard 2K; it can be researched independently of the main Leopard line. For France, conversely, the EMBT will serve as the top vehicle in the Dutch Leopard line and will be researched separately from the Leclercs.
On June 11th 2018, Nexter and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann unveiled the prototype of the European Main Battle Tank (EMBT) at the Eurosatory exhibition. This vehicle was one of the options proposed under the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) program. The prototype combined the chassis of the German Leopard 2A7 with the turret of the French Leclerc.At Eurosatory 2022, KNDS France presented a subsequent variant that differed significantly from the initial EMBT version. Finally, in 2024, a mockup of an updated EMBT featuring the 140 mm smoothbore ASCALON gun was unveiled. It is expected that tanks developed under the MGCS program could replace Europe’s Leopard 2 and Leclerc XLR fleets no earlier than 2035.
With the EMBT coming for Germany and France, both nations will have access to an MBT with great firepower and mobility, adding more to lineups. See you in the next one!
Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.