The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) selects the SHARD new-generation armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) round
17 February 2026 – The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has placed an order with KNDS Ammo France for several thousand SHARD APFSDS rounds.
Developed to meet the demands of high-intensity combat, SHARD is fully compatible with all NATO 120mm smoothbore gun platforms, including the Leclerc, Leopard 2, and Abrams tanks. Thanks to its innovative and optimized design, this round offers improved accuracy and increased penetration against modern main battle tanks. Its redesigned construction also reduces barrel wear during firing, extending the service life of systems using SHARD.
SHARD’s performance has been successfully validated in trials conducted on the Leclerc and Leopard 2 tanks, confirming its high level of operational effectiveness.
With SHARD, KNDS Ammo France provides the French cavalry with a decisive operational advantage, reinforcing the superiority of armoured forces on modern battlefields and contributing directly to the sovereignty and credibility of French defence.
Source DGA
Unofficial translation by EDR On-Line
File photo courtesy KNDS
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The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) ordered several thousand SHARD armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds from KNDS Ammo France on 17 February 2026. These rounds are designed for high-intensity combat and are compatible with NATO 120mm smoothbore gun platforms, including the Leclerc, Leopard 2, and Abrams tanks. The SHARD rounds offer improved accuracy and penetration, validated through trials, enhancing the operational capabilities of French armored forces.
- The DGA ordered several thousand SHARD APFSDS rounds from KNDS Ammo France.
- SHARD rounds are compatible with NATO 120mm smoothbore gun platforms.
- The design of SHARD improves accuracy and penetration against modern tanks.
- SHARD's performance has been validated in trials on Leclerc and Leopard 2 tanks.
- The procurement reinforces the operational advantage of French armored forces.