The turret of the EMBT MBT is designed to evolve to the future of the main armament by presenting the new ASCALON gun and ammunition concept. This innovative concept, while proposing significant growth potential, delivers performance levels that current technologies do not offer. Taking advantage of its long experience with the 120mm smoothbore gun, its mastery of compact ammunition as well as of the maturity achieved during firing campaigns with a 140mm caliber, KNDS designed ASCALON with an open architecture to serve as a basis for cooperative development within the framework of the Franco-German MGCS program, laying the foundations for the future standard of European tank gun and ammunition.
The ASCALON for “Autoloaded and SCALable Outperforming guN” is a new generation of 140mm tank gun designed to reach Technology Readiness Level 6 by 2025 to facilitate its proposal as the main weapon system for the Franco-German Main Combat Ground System (MCGS) program, which will develop a next-generation main battle tank and supporting vehicles for the French and German armed forces.
The turret of the EMBT MBT is fitted with a new generation of passive and active armor and also integrates Israeli TROPHY APS (Active Protection System) and E-LAWS LWS (Laser Warning System) developed by the Israeli company Elbit Systems. The Trophy creates a neutralization bubble around the tank. It rapidly detects, classifies and engages all known chemical energy (CE) threats – including recoilless rifles, ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles), AT (Anti-Tank) rockets, HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) tank rounds, and RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades. Elbit Systems’ Laser Warning System (E-LAWS) and Threat Detection System (TDS) detect, categorize and pinpoint laser sources such as rangefinders, designators, beam riders, infrared illuminators, and trainers. In addition to laser sources, the Multi-Threat Detection System (MTDS) detects, categorizes and pinpoints radar/RF sources. All of these systems allow for training within the vehicle and include built-in tests.