Spain Begins New Transfer of 10 Leopard 2A4 Tanks to Ukraine.

 The Spanish Ministry of Defense announced on July 15, 2024, the commencement of a new transfer of military equipment to Ukraine. This latest shipment includes 10 Leopard 2A4 tanks, various backhoes, and a significant number of anti-tank rockets.
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Spain to deliver 10 additional Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine.  (Picture source: Spanish MoD)

The Leopard 2A4 tanks underwent extensive repairs and fine-tuning at the Santa Bárbara Sistemas factory in Alcalá de Guadaira, Seville, ensuring their full operational readiness. The comprehensive process included rigorous testing to verify the tanks' operability.

The transport of the 10 'Leopard' 2A4 tanks began with a land journey from Seville to Ferrol last week. The tanks were then loaded onto a Ro-Ro vessel, which departed from Ferrol on Saturday, July 13. The ship is expected to arrive at a Polish port before the weekend, after which the tanks will be transported by land to Ukraine. The Ukrainian Armed Forces will oversee the final phase of the journey, ensuring the tanks reach their operational units safely.

Security measures are in place at every stage of the transportation process to ensure the safe delivery of these critical assets.

With this shipment, Spain has now donated a total of 20 'Leopard' 2A4 tanks to Ukraine. Further donations are planned for the second half of 2024, highlighting Spain's continued support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict.

General Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas, a subsidiary of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), is responsible for refurbishing Leopard 2A4 tanks in Spain. This effort is part of Spain's commitment to support Ukraine by donating military equipment. The refurbishing process takes place at the Santa Bárbara Sistemas facility in Alcalá de Guadaira, Seville.

The refurbishment involves a comprehensive overhaul including disassembly, inspection, and replacement of defective parts to ensure the tanks are fully operational. This initiative aims to enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities against ongoing aggression. Spain has already completed the refurbishment of the first batch of Leopard 2A4 tanks, with more expected to be ready by September 2024​.

According to military open-source information, before the war in Ukraine, the Spanish army possessed a total of 219 Leopard 2E (A6) Main Battle Tanks and 108 Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tanks, with an additional 54 tanks held in reserve.

The Leopard 2A4 is a main battle tank developed by the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. It is part of the Leopard 2 family, which has been in service since the late 1970s. The 2A4 variant, introduced in the 1980s, features improved armor, a digital fire control system, and a 120mm smoothbore gun. Known for its mobility, firepower, and protection, the Leopard 2A4 is widely used by numerous countries' armed forces around the world.