John Cockerill Defense has successfully tested its C3105 turret, which is fully adapted to the Leopard 1 tank chassis.
The announcement came via the Managing Director of Midkiff Consultancy Services Bear Midkiff, who shared the results on his social media platform.
“I am happy to report the successful completion of an outstanding live demonstration of both the C1030 30mm x 173mm turret from the Patria XP AMV and the C3105 turret fully adapted to the Leopard 1 chassis!” Midkiff wrote.
He added, “The various delegations were extremely satisfied with the hands-on experience and performance of the weapons systems! Steel on target is what matters at the end of the day. Hats off to the crews and personnel who made this happen!!”
The C3105 turret offers enhanced combat capability, increasing the productivity of the Leopard 1 chassis without requiring extensive modifications. Military experts note that while a 120mm cannon could theoretically increase the tank’s range, integrating such a weapon would require substantial alterations to the Leopard 1A5 BE’s design. Instead, the C3105 provides a practical retrofit solution that maintains the platform’s balance and performance.
The turret, made of welded ballistic aluminum, features a 105mm High Pressure (HP) cannon and is designed for ease of integration onto both wheeled and tracked vehicles. It supports a two-person crew and incorporates an automatic ammunition loading system. Secondary weapon options include a 7.62mm coaxial or pintle-mounted gun and an optional 40mm automatic grenade launcher (AGL). This flexibility ensures the C3105 can meet diverse battlefield requirements.
According to John Cockerill Defense, the C3105 lethality solution represents a mature, qualified option for platforms seeking advanced firepower. The turret is already in production for a Middle Eastern ally, with at least 100 units being integrated onto vehicles similar to U.S. Strykers. These deployments underline the C3105’s adaptability and effectiveness in modern combat scenarios.