Poland is ready to transfer up to 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

According to a Tweet published on the Official President of the Republic of Poland account on January 11, 2023, Poland is ready to transfer a company of Leopard 2 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) consisting of 10 to 14 tanks from its own military inventory.
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Polish Army Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank MBT. (Picture source Army Recognition)

Citing information from the President of Poland Andrzej Duda, the transfer of the Leopard 2 tanks will have to be done within the framework of a coalition with other European countries and with the agreement of Germany. Indeed, all international arms sales can only be done with the agreement of the producing country.

Regarding the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, four countries including Poland, Finland, Denmark, and Spain could partner to deliver a total of 56 Leopard 2 tanks.

Currently, the Polish army has a total of 137 Leopard 2A4 and 105 Leopard 2A5. Poland has also ordered 117 M1A1 Abrams and 25 M1A2 SEPv3 American MBTs as well as 180 K2 tanks from South Korea. Poland could procure in the next few years a total of 1,000 K2 tanks.

Poland has not yet specified the Leopard variant that could be supplied to Ukraine, but knowing the stocks available in other European countries, it could be the 2A4 version.

The Leopard 2A4 is the first operational version in the Leopard 2 family. The first preproduction Leopard 2 MBT was delivered to the German Army late in 1978 for training and it entered officially into service in October 1979.

The Leopard 2 is considered as one of the most protected main battle tank in the world and also offers a great combination of firepower and mobility. The Leopard 2A4 tank is armed with a 120mm L44 smoothbore gun manufactured by the German company Rheinmetall. As the standard NATO smoothbore gun for main battle tanks Leopard 2 and AbramsM1A1, the Rheinmetall L44 tank gun proved superior to all rivals in the 120 mm arena. In combination with the Rheinmetall ammunition family KE, HE, and PELE the L44’s firepower give the tank the edge even in long-range engagements.

The hull of the Leopard 2A4 has spaced multilayer armor and is divided into three compartments including the driver at the front, turret in the middle, and power pack at the rear. The multi-layered armor provides effective protection against kinetic projectiles from tank guns, armored vehicle cannons, and anti-tank weapons.

The Leopard 2A4 is powered by an MTU MB 873 Diesel engine developing 1,500 hp at 2,600 rpm coupled to a Renk HSWL 354 hydrokinetic planetary gear shift with an integral service brake with 4 forward and 2 reverse gears. The tracked suspension with torsion bars consists on each side of seven dual rubber-tired road wheels with the idler at the front, the drive sprocket at the rear, and four track-support rollers. The tank can run at a maximum road speed of 72 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 550 km.