M.97 Chevalier

The M.97 Chevalier is a Main Battle Tank (MBT) originally jointly developed for the Legantine and Vallisian armed forces. The tank first entered service in 1997 with both nations' militaries and had completely supplanted the previous MBTs by 2001. Designed in direct response to the increasing effectiveness of armored vehicles being developed and deployed by other nations, the Chevalier has found a relatively robust, if niche, place on the international export market.

Development
The 1980s saw the introduction of new armor designs by the nations of the NSC and PAC. Legantine evaluation of these designs compared to the M.72 currently in service found the tank to be at a severe disadvantage. While an upgraded variant of the M.72 was created as a temporary measure, a competition for a “Next Generation Armored Vehicle” was opened. Vallis, which was undergoing an already planned modernization of its armored forces, suggested a joint program to fill the requirements of both militaries. Several design groups were formed integrating designers and engineers from both nations to develop proposals for consideration. Three of these proposals were chosen for prototype testing. The IAT/Talleser Paladin, the Kholst & Haase/Orans Design Group Hussar, and the IAT/Kholst & Haase Chevalier. The Paladin encountered issues in the production of the prototype, forcing it to be removed from the competition. The Hussar and the Chevalier prototypes were put into testing on a variety of conditions, where they were found to be roughly equivalent in armor, speed, handling, and accuracy. The primary difference was between the autoloader of the Chevalier and the manual loading of the Hussar. The autoloader was found to be notably more effective in testing. In addition, the Chevalier was also approximately one half a meter shorter, and was selected by both nations for service.

Exports
South Veikaia accepted the M.97 A variant after testing determined the tank was superior to current vehicles and domestic produced competitors.

Type 1 Infantry Battle Tank
Developed for Akiteiwa, the variant was based off of the M.97A. The specific improvements include integrated domestic electronics, improved compartment seals, a more robust air conditioning system, and a condenser system.

Current Operators

 * Airgialla: The Airgiallan Defense Forces operates 58 M.97 tanks, all upgraded to A1 standard as of 2015.


 * Akiteiwa: XXX Type 1 Infantry Battle Tanks, Upgraded to M.97B standard


 * Legantus:The Legantine Army operates XXX M.97s, All operating on A1 and B standard.


 * Vallis: The Vallisian Army operates XXX tanks at the A1 and B standard.


 * South Veikaia: The Veikan Ground Forces operate a fleet of XXX M.97s, at A1 standard.


 * Qurac: The Republican Guard operates 411 M.97 tanks, of which 257 are at A1 and 148 are at B standard, with 6 ARVs.