Nexter qualifies Shard 120 mm APFSDS tank ammunition

KNDS’s Nexter qualified its Shard 120 mm APFSDS tank ammunition in late 2023. (Nexter)

KNDS’s Nexter announced in a press release on 29 February that it had qualified its Shard 120 mm armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) tank ammunition in late 2023 and that it is now ready for production.

The ammunition was demonstrated against rolled homogeneous armour with Leclerc and Leopard 2 main battle tank (MBT) users in Alcochete.

Shard is designed to defeat modern MBTs and future threats, with Nexter claiming it offers increased penetration, greater accuracy, and reduced barrel wear.

The company said the ammunition’s penetration has been increased by 15% while keeping dispersion low; its barrel wear has been reduced by 25%, reducing maintenance cycles and costs; and its muzzle velocity is 1,720 m/s with the Leclerc L52 gun and 1,734 m/s with the Leopard 2 L55 gun.