According to information published on the Twitter account of the German Ministry of Defense on February 8, 2023, the first German Leopard 2A6 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) will be delivered to Ukraine at the end of March 2023. Following this delivery, Ukraine's armed forces will be equipped with one of the best tanks in the world.
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German army Leopard 2A6 Main Battle Tank. (Picture source Army Recognition)
On January 25, 2023, the Army Recognition editorial team reported that Germany approved the delivery of 14 Leopard 2A6 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) to Ukraine. It was an important decision for Germany as part of its support for Ukraine in the face of the invasion of the country by Russian troops.
Indeed, Germany will provide Ukraine with one of the most powerful main battle tanks in the world in terms of protection, firepower, and mobility.
The Leopard 2A6 Main Battle Tank (MBT) is a highly advanced and capable tank developed by Germany. It is equipped with a range of features that make it well-suited for modern warfare, including advanced armor protection, powerful weapons systems, and state-of-the-art communications and surveillance equipment.
The Leopard 2A6 has been used by several countries in Europe and has a reputation for being one of the best MBTs in the world. However, as with any military equipment, the Leopard 2A6 has its strengths and weaknesses, and the suitability of the tank for any given mission will depend on a range of factors, including the specific requirements of the military operation, the local environment, and the availability of supporting resources.
The Leopard 2A6 is the third generation of tanks in the Leopard family. The Germany Company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann handed over to the German Army the first upgraded Leopard 2A6 series Main Battle Tank (MBT) in March 2011.
The Leopard 2A6 is armed with the new Rheinmetall 120 mm L/55 smoothbore tank gun able to fire the latest Rheinmetall 120 mm DM53 Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot - Tracer (APFSDS-T) ammunition, using a non-depleted uranium penetrator, gives the Leopard 2A6 an additional combat range of 1,600 m and much greater armor penetration characteristics.
The Leopard 2A6 is also equipped with a new fire-control computer including an additional ballistic circuit board, modification of diagnostic sequences, and new circuit boards for stabilization electronics. The commander is equipped with a PERI-R 17 A2 stabilized panoramic periscope sight for day/night observation and target identification, which provides an all-around view with a traverse of 360°. The tank has a hunter-killer engagement capability. It is a targeting system that allows the commander to sight independently from the gunner, acquiring the next target before the gunner is finished with the one it has - locking that in, and slewing the turret around to suit with a commander's override.
The Leopard 2A6 is powered by an MTU MB 873 diesel engine developing 1,500 hp coupled to a Renk HSWL 354 gear and brake system. The tank can reach a top road speed of 70 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 550 km.
