Breaking news
RUAG introduces a new Leopard 2 A4 armor upgrade at IAV 2013 International Armoured Vehicles.
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International
Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2013 |
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RUAG Defence at IAV International Armoured Vehicles 2013 |
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| Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 11:39 PM | |||
| RUAG introduces a new Leopard 2 A4 armor upgrade at IAV 2013 International Armoured Vehicles | |||
The options open
to those customers researching the international market for solutions
aimed at either replacing the existing A4 MBT fleet, or upgrading are
varied. They either replace with surplus models (A5 & A6) or embark
on a Mid Life Upgrade programme of the A4 version. However, when considering
protection some factors are indisputable. |
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 Leopard 2 A4 scale model with RUAG Defence armor upgrade on Ruag stand at IAV International Armoured Vehicles 2013 |
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With only
the front protection modules mounted, RUAG Defence is able to improve
the overall protection of the turret crew compartment, thus exceeding
the protection available on the Leopard 2 A5/A6. The optional side protection modules increase the coverage degree and give the tank full protection against KE penetrators and shaped charges over the whole frontal arc (±90°). If required, the bomblet protection on the roof (turret and hull) offers protection against a wide range of known artillery bomblets. Other improvement available for upgrading the protection of the A4 MBT include RUAG’s Roof Protection Kit-P, this is a ballistically and environmentally qualified roof protection Kit which could be integrated with the existing roof plates of the vehicle. The installation of a spall liner would reduce secondary fragments cone angle and therefore increase the survivability of the crew in case of perforation. The spall liner would cover the side and roof area of the crew compartment including driver’s compartment. Mine protection in the modern battlefield environment is of prime importance to the MBT of today. The International mine protection kit concerns primary and secondary mine protection. The principles regarding the mounting of components in the crew compartment are adopted from the Swiss Pz87 WE program: assemblies and seats are detached from the floor, torsion bar covers installed in the crew compartment, modifications implemented to ammunition rack and mine protection plate installed including modifications of emergency escape cover. The original Leopard 2 A4, as well as the A5/A6 versions, do not give adequate protection against medium calibre KE penetrators from Infantry Fighting Vehicles, nor against handheld anti-tank weapons such as the RPG-7 or Panzerfaust. |
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