ASCALON, the French touch for the MGCS.
Table of Contents
Origins of the ASCALON can be traced back to the 1990s. At the time, the French were involved in a quadripartite program designated by NATO as FTMA (Future Tank Main Armament). The FTMA program started in 1988 as a memorandum of understanding between the USA, UK, France and Germany. The aim of this joint venture program was to develop a new 140 mm tank gun being able to deal with the future generation of Russian Main Battle Tanks
Cold War vibe:
The 140 mm smoothbore gun displayed on the lawns in front of the GIAT pyramids at Bourges.
For their part, the French produced in 1996 a prototype turret (T4) which was essentially a Leclerc turret armed with a 140 mm smoothbore gun and an elongated bustle for the lengthened autoloader cells. The 140 mm smoothbore gun had been designed by the EFAB (Établissement de Fabrication d’Armement de Bourges ; weapon manufacturing establishment of Bourges). The T4 turret was mounted on a T3 hull (block 3). However, the future Russian threat never materialized and the program was indefinitely put on standby at the very end of the 1990s. The T4 turret was then placed in storage in the former hull workshop of Satory.
The T4 turret stored in the former hull workshop of Satory, late 2000s.
Out of oblivion:
Terminateur during its firing trials in Portugal. The 140 mm gun still has the old two-baffle muzzle brake.
In September 2016, the T4 turret was mounted again on a former turretless Leclerc MARS[1] hull and parked as a gate guardian on the lawns of the STAT (Army Technical Section), in Versailles. A ceremony was held and the tank was christened with the name Terminateur (Terminator) by the chief executive of the STAT ; Brigadier General Charles Beaudouin.
In 2017 the Terminateur was repainted with the new SCORPION camouflage for testing purpose.
At the end of the year, the T4 turret was borrowed and in May 2018 the Terminateur was brought back to Roanne arsenal.
Still in 2018, it was reported that the up-gunned Leclerc fired more than 200 rounds successfully.
During the spring and summer of 2019, Terminateur and its 140 mm has been undergoing firing trials in an unspecified dusty environment in Portugal.
[1] An armored recovery vehicle based on the Leclerc.
In April 2021, Nexter revealed that they were developing a new tank gun named ASCALON (Autoloaded and SCALable Outperforming guN). Contrary to some claims, Scalable does not refer to the availability in different calibres but evocates its growth potential of this weapon system. Ascalon is also the name of the sword of Saint George, the patron saint of cavalry and armour.
The raison d’être of the ASCALON is the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) joint project. Nexter proposes its 140 mm weapon system for the future tracked platform that will replace the French and Germans MBTs by 2035, ASCALON is therefore in direct competition with the German Rh-130 L52 revealed by Rheinmetall at the 2016 edition of Eurosatory.
Nexter emphasizes that ASCALON features an open architecture which complies with the cooperative nature of the MGCS joint project.
credit: Nexter
In May 2022, the ASCALON performed a series of firing tests carried out at the field firing range of Alcochete in Portugal. At the same time, it was stated that ASCALON development was currently at the level 4[1] of the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale and the level 6[2] is foreseen for 2025. A new test campaign is scheduled for the end of this year.
[1] Technology validated in lab.
[2] Technology validated in relevant environment.
Something new out of something old:
As for now, ASCALON retains the recoil brakes, the recuperators and the breech of the former French 140 mm gun developed for the FTMA program. Ballast plates have been bolted on top of the breech block in order to ensure a good stability during firings.
Nexter is currently working on a new modified vertical sliding breech-block that would allow the autoloader to retrieve a round out of the chamber. This feature will be a significant advantage given that new larger calibre tank guns of the future main battle tanks will lead to a reduction in their ammunition complement. Those improvements are foreseen for 2023 and will ensure full capability of the weapon system
ASCALON retains the breech of the former 140 mm gun originally developed for the FTMA program. Notice the ballast plates bolted on top of it.
To ensure its integration on tracked platforms weighing around 50-55 tonnes[1], ASCALON is fitted with a pepperpot muzzle brake which reduce recoil forces. According to Nexter, this muzzle brake innovates in its way of limiting the blast effect whose overpressure causes increasing discomfort to the crews of tanks and the blast which goes with it creates dangers.
The controlled blast effect will thus allow the presence of infantrymen in the vicinity of the tank for joint combat, particularly in urban areas which are more and more present in armed conflicts.
The sheer weight of the recoiling part (3300 kg) also contributes to the absorption of the recoil forces.
The smoothbore barrel is fitted with a fume extractor and a faceted octagonal thermal sleeve. The top side and the underside of the sleeve have the particularity of being punctured by dozens of tiny holes which are almost invisible to the naked eye. The purpose of these holes is to produce an airflow that cool the gun barrel by convection.
[1] originally quoted in 2021 as weighing less than 50 tonnes.
Close-up view on the pepperpot muzzle brake and the thermal sleeve. Accessories such as a muzzle reference sensor can be mounted on the threaded part.
According to Nexter, the ASCALON barrel has a length of 48 calibres, just over 50 cm more than the Leclerc’s CN120-26 gun barrel[1].
The gun is said to be well balanced; an effort has been made from the beginning to maintain balance around the trunnions to ensure its natural stabilisation.
Muzzle energy is 20 MJ at the muzzle, which on the target, at 2000 meters is close to 10 MJ due to energy loss related to the sabot parasitic mass and the aerodynamic drag. Which is about the double of the muzzle energy of an OFL 120 F1[1] APFSDS fired from the 120 mm F1 gun.
[1] Also known as 120 OFLE F1A.
Back in 2021, Nexter stated that the energy level for kinetic ammunition has a growth potential up to 13 MJ. ASCALON service pressure is currently quoted at 660 MPa, which might seem low when compared to current 120 mm smoothbore guns[2] but it is necessary to consider that the larger calibre increase the barrel surface and thus the chamber volume, meaning however a lower pressure per unit area (which limits the barrel wear) even generating a higher energy.
The chamber volume has not been disclosed but estimates made by measuring give a figure of approximately 20 L.
[1] 6200 mm or L/52.
[2] Leclerc CN120-26 is rated at 670 MPa.
Compact ammunition:
Like the 140 mm ammunition developed in the mid-1990s by the USA, UK, Germany and France for the FTMA multinational program, the 140 mm cartridges of the ASCALON have the same diameter as the NATO 120×570mm cartridges[1] to ease their integration in current ammunition racks and autoloaders. Although some modification will be required due to the difference in length between 120 mm and 140 mm ammunition.
ASCALON innovates with a semi-telescoped ammunition design which allow the use of compact, single -piece ammunition whose length does not exceed 1.3 m. To compare, the FTMA used two-piece ammunition with a total length of 1.5 m[2] for a weight of 45 kg[3].
[1] 160 mm for the combustible cartridge, 169 mm for the rim of the metallic stub case.
[2] 100 cm APFSDS cartridge + 50 cm secondary propellant charge.
[3] Including a 11 kg 140 mm APFSDS.
The quite cumbersome French 140 mm APFSDS displayed at Eurosatory 96.
The 140 mm NLOS (left) and APFSDS (right) semi-telescoped ammunition.
Two types of ammunition have been presented, the first one being an APFSDS, whose sabot is completely surrounded by the propellant. Only the sabot ring and forward part of the penetrator protrudes from the top of the round. For the connoisseurs, the shape is a bit reminiscent of the XM578 APFSDS whose exploratory development began in March 1964[1].
Nexter representatives stated that their 140 mm APFSDS is longer and heavier than the current 130 mm APFSDS fired by the Rheinmetall Rh-130 L52[2]. The French APFSDS feature a long-rod tungsten alloy penetrator having a very high length-to-diameter ratio of more than 35:1, its muzzle velocity is in the range of 1700-1800 m/s.
The second one is the 140 NLOS which is, as its name suggests, is a guided ammunition to be used for beyond-line-of-sight shots at distances beyond the reach of conventional, direct-fire, munitions. Let us notice that the projectile also has a discarding sabot.
Few details have been released but the 140 NLOS round expected to have a range of 8 km to 15 km. The 140 NLOS is based on the operating mechanism of top-attack, guided 120 mm round known as POLYNEGE[3] previously developed by Giat Industries in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Its guidance system will be based on proven technologies developed for the KATANA, a 155 mm guided artillery shell also developed by Nexter. Back in September 2021, it was stated that the 140 NLOS was still in concept phase. More recently, Nexter suggested that other 140 mm ammunition were foreseen such as a High-Explosive (HE) shell.
[1] A prototype of 152 mm APFSDS developed by the Picatinny Arsenal for the US-German MBT-70/KPz-70 main battle tank program. It was the first APFSDS to feature a tungsten alloy teardrop-shaped core.
[2] Previously designated L51.
[3] Formerly known as POLY-NG.
Characteristics versus competitors:
| Weapon system designation | FGS | ASCALON | F1 |
| Gun designation | Rh-130 L52 | CN120-26 | |
| Designer | Rheinmetall | Nexter, Nexter Arrowtech | EFAB |
| Year | 2015 – present | 2021* – present | 1992 – present |
| Caliber | 130 mm | 140 mm | 120 mm |
| Cartridge dimensions | 130×850 mm | 120×570 mm NATO | |
| Ammunition weight | 30 kg (APFSDS) | 30-35 kg (APFSDS) | 19.6 kg (120 OFLE F1A APFSDS) |
| Muzzle velocity (APFSDS) | 1700-1800 m/s | 1790 m/s | |
| Ammunition types | 4 : APFSDS, HE ABM, ASM | 3 : APFSDS, NLOS, HE | many |
| Overall length | 7160 mm | 7300 mm | 6931 mm |
| Barrel length (chamber included) | |||
| Barrel length (smoothbore) | 6630 mm | 6720 mm | 6200 mm |
| Caliber length | L/51 | L/48 | L/52 |
| Design pressure | 880 Mpa | 660 MPa | |
| Service pressure | 670 Mpa | ||
| Chamber volume | more than 15L | circa 20 L | 10.2 L |
| Recoil length | 450 mm | 400 mm | |
| Barrel weight | 1400 kg | ||
| Barrel + breech block | 3050 kg | ||
| Recoiling weight | 3300 kg | 1995 kg | |
| Total weight / oscillating weight | 3000 kg | 3500 kg | 2740 kg |
| *test firings have been conducted since 2018-2019 | |||
Inside the Ascalon folder in our database, you can find many pictures and documents about the new Ascalon, french 140 mm gun: https://bit.ly/3yhBoZK
Written by M. Lahaye in collaboration with: 
