Gran Fleche 90mm XXI
| Gran Fleche 90mm XXI | |
|---|---|
.gif) Gran Fleche 90mm XXI schematic | |
| Type | armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot |
| Place of origin |  Burgundie |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1999-present |
| Specifications | |
| Caliber | 90mm |
The Gran Fleche 90mm is a 90mm armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) anti-tank round used by the Army of Burgundie as an upgraded, intermediary round for its older wheeled tanks and armored cars with 90mm cannons. While newer Burgoignesc main battle tanks utilize 105mm and 40mm cannons, a significant portion of their armored fighting vehicles, including variants of the CTC Scorpion II and ERC 90, continue to employ the 90mm. The Gran Fleche 90mm XXI offers these vehicles a significant increase in anti-tank capability compared to older HEAT and APFSDS rounds.
Development
The Gran Fleche 90mm XXI was developed in the late 1990s by the Burgoignesc state-owned arms manufacturer, Atelier de Construction de Brourges (ACB). The primary goal was to provide a cost-effective solution to enhance the firepower of existing vehicles without requiring extensive refitting for larger caliber weapons. Designers drew inspiration from existing Levantine Union Defense Council member APFSDS rounds but adapted the technology to the specific needs and limitations of the 90mm platform. Adapting APFSDS technology to the relatively small 90mm caliber proved difficult. Designers were asked to carefully balance the length and diameter of the penetrator to achieve optimal penetration while maintaining in-flight stability in the 1997 Medium Caliber Anti-Tank Round Requirement (Burg: Requirement Calibre Moyen Cartouche Anti-Char, 1997). Simultaneously, creating a penetrator capable of defeating modern armor required advanced metallurgy, specifically the Mactliat tank. All of the competing companies invested heavily in research and development to produce a high-density tungsten alloy that could withstand the extreme forces generated upon impact. Developing a sabot that could effectively discard upon firing while providing sufficient in-flight guidance was also crucial. Extensive testing and simulations were conducted to optimize the sabot's aerodynamic properties and ensure reliable separation. Another key requirement for the project was cost-effectiveness. The Gran Fleche 90mm XXI had to be significantly cheaper than replacing existing vehicles with newer models equipped with larger caliber cannons.
While primarily intended for the Army of Burgundie, the round also would be considered the export market during development. The round had to be designed to be compatible with various 90mm cannons used by other nations, increasing its appeal to international customers. Furthermore, the Gran Fleche 90mm XXI was seen as a way for Burgundie to maintain a credible deterrent against potential near-peer adversaries like Caphiria, while maintaining the small platform maneuverability required by the expeditionary warfare that is common of the missions that the Army of Burgundie engages in. Before entering service, the Gran Fleche 90mm XXI underwent extensive testing and evaluation. This included firing trials against various types of armor, environmental testing, and compatibility testing with different 90mm cannon platforms. The rounds were tested against a range of targets, including captured enemy tanks and purpose-built armor plates, to validate their penetration capabilities. The successful candidate was the round created by Atelier de Construction de Brourges (ACB) and sent into production in January of 1999.
In 2014, the Gran Fleche 90mm XXI Patron 2 was released. It refined the high-density tungsten alloy used in the penetrator to allow for greater penetration against the increasing availability of armor plating. It was upgraded again in 2027 with the Patron 3, upgrading the propellent to increase the velocity, and again in 2034 with the Patron 3b, which further refined the alloy and also refined the fin design to increase stabilization in flight. As of 2035, only the most modern and heavily armored tanks, with reactive armor plates, can withstand a precision hit from Gran Fleche 90mm XXI Patron 3b round. However, a precision hit must target a weaker part of the tank's armor.