First Leopard 2 tank version 2A4 donated by Canada is on the way to Ukraine.

According to a tweet published on February 4, 2023, by the Canadian Minister of Defense, Anita Anand, the first Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank (MBT), specifically the 2A4 version, donated by Canada is on its way to Ukraine.
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A Leopard 2A4 tank is loaded onto a Royal Canadian Armed Forces (RCAF) Canadian Cargo-177 Globemaster III in Halifax, Nova Scotia to be sent overseas as part of Canada's aid to Ukraine on February 3, 2023. (Picture source Canada MoD)

A video was published by the Canadian Ministry of Defense showing a Leopard 2A4 tank loaded onto a Royal Canadian Armed Forces (RCAF) Canadian Cargo-177 Globemaster III military transport aircraft in Halifax, Nova Scotia to be sent overseas as part of Canada's aid to Ukraine on February 3, 2023.

On January 26, 2023, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced that Canada will supply Ukraine with four Leopard 2 main battle tanks from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) military inventory. Thanks to the video and pictures released on the Canadian Ministry of Defense website, we can confirm today that it is Leopard 2A4s tanks that are delivered to Ukraine.

Currently, the Canadian army is equipped with 82 operational Main Battle Tanks including 42 Leopard 2A4, 20 Leopard 2A4M upgraded version, 20 Leopard 2A6M, and 52 Leopard 1C2 in store.

The Leopard 2 tanks are the backbone of the Canadian armed forces. It represents a family of MBTS including versions 2A4, 2A4M, and 2A6. These tanks provide a tactical advantage in the form of mobility, firepower, and survivability, and are used to provide direct fire support on the battlefield. All of the MBT variants (Leopard 2A4, 2A4M, and 2A6M) can also be equipped with mine roller attachments, which are used to clear away mines during patrols.

The Canadian government purchased surplus Leopard 2A4 tanks from the German army in 2007 to supplement its existing armored vehicle fleet. The family of Leopard 2 tanks in service with the Canadian army also includes Armoured Engineer Vehicles (Leopard 2AEV) and Armoured Recovery Vehicles (Leopard 2ARV), and are capable of supporting a wide range of operations.

The Leopard 2A4 tank is equipped with an L44 120mm smoothbore gun. The L44 is a highly accurate and effective weapon system that can fire a variety of ammunition types, including high-explosive, armor-piercing, and anti-personnel rounds. The smoothbore design of the gun allows for greater accuracy and longer range compared to rifled guns, making it an excellent choice for a main battle tank. The L44 is also equipped with an advanced fire control system that helps to further increase its accuracy and effectiveness on the battlefield. The second armament of the Leopard 2A4 includes one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun mounted on the right of the main armament and one 7.62mm machine that can be mounted on the loader hatch.

The Leopard 2A4 tank is powered by an MTU MB 873 Ka-501 turbocharged diesel engine. This engine produces 1,500 horsepower allowing the tank to reach a road speed of up to 68 km/h and around 40 km/h in all-terrain conditions.