Actually I was just (few days ago) interacting in another forum where it was being brought up (by a Swedish reserve guy who has good contacts) that Sweden is potentially interested in the LeClerc tank now (to add to their existing strv. leo's). The auto loader is a key thing it seems because they are somewhat shortstaffed...and to quote him:
smaller profile and lighter so able to cross more bridges and the word seems to be that deliveries could be made at a speedier pace. Somewhat younger tankers are leaning more towards the Leclerc and the older officers are more sceptical.
@A.P. Richelieu @waz @Zarvan @Signalian
The conversation proceeded to then be about the LeClerc in general...and one wise guy was like "what was the last good tank the French ever made?"...and one (funny) guy follows with "its a been a while, maybe a century" , and posts a renault FT
...and senior forum guy eventually cuts that banter with "actually French have made, SOMUA, AMX-13, AMX-30 and some very decent armored cars"...and I proceeded to give a few tidbits of AMX-13 performance that
@hellfire @Joe Shearer might know about too.
Swedish guy btw now is saying French have about 200 or so leclercs in storage that could be potentially leased if Sweden chooses it (while waiting for new builds).