Melchior Technologie MT135 diesel engine

[TomTom]

This summer while reading Marc Chasillan book about the Leclerc MBT I've discovered the existence of the MT135 diesel engine designed by Jean F. Melchior.
Melchior is the inventor of the Hyperbar supercharging process, used in the V8X1500 engine of the Leclerc tank.

I've used the few new information discovered in Chasillan's book to update the Wikipedia page (in French).

Do any of you have more information about this engine?
Do any of you have access to the document and works cited in the reference and bibliography?

 

[TomTom]

A bit of translation.​

Technical specifications​

The MT 135 was a compact cubic engine with a volume of approximately 1 m, developing between 1,000 and 1,550 bhp from a displacement of 7.75 litres. The MT135 was 1,360 cm wide, 1,450 cm high and 1,015 cm deep. It was supercharged by three-stage crankshaft-driven compressors with intercoolers. Air intake pressure was 1.5 to 2 MPa, while ignition pressure was 30 MPa, almost double that of a diesel engine of the time. It was unusual in that its poppet valves were mounted perpendicular to each other to improve scavenging. A variable camshaft allowed the compression ratio to be varied. The MT 135 was dyno-tested up to 1,550 bhp.
The plan was to install second-generation valves, increase the cylinder bore by 160 mm and fit turbocharging; this last modification would have increased its power by 500 bhp.

• Manufacturer : Melchior Technology
• Years of production : early 1990s
• Application : Tracked boats and armored vehicles
• Cylinder capacity :7,300 cm
• Layout : 3 cylinders in line
• Bore : 135 mm
• Stroke : 170 mm
• Cooling : Liquid
• Fuel : Diesel
• Ignition : Electric
• Maximum power: 1,000 bhp to 1,550 bhp (746 kW to 1,156 kW) at 1,800 rpm
• Compression ratio : variable
• Fuel consumption : 210 g/kWh (with compressors)
• Weight : 1700 kg

Advanced Integrated Power System​

AIPS, an American programme launched by TACOM in 1983 to replace the AGT1500 turbine on the M1 Abrams tank, led to a study of a very compact powertrain with a U-shaped architecture combining the MT135 with elements of SESM's ESM-500 mechanical gearbox. The GMP developed in this way had an estimated power output of 1,500 bhp, with five forward gears and two reverse gears. Its overall dimensions would have been 1,900 cm wide, 1,150 cm high and 1,100 cm deep8.