As early as autumn 2022, active discussions began on the possibility of handing over German Leopard tanks to the Ukrainian military.

On January 11, 2023, during a political visit to Lviv, Polish President Andrzej Duda

that Ukraine would receive a company of Leopard 2 tanks as part of the creation of an international coalition.

According to NATO standards, the company contains 14 tanks.

Tank Leopard 2: the history of creation

The Leopard 2

is a main battle tank that was created by the German company Krauss-Maffei (now Krauss-Maffei Wegmann).

Became the successor to the already successful development of the same company — the Leopard 1 tank.

Production started in 1979.

A total of 3,200 tanks were produced.

They are currently in service with the armed forces of Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Austria, Turkey, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Singapore, Denmark, Chile, Greece, Canada, and Finland.

Options

Leopard 2 is the main tank, which is still often called "A0" to distinguish it from other modifications.

It was produced from October 1979 to March 1982.

A total of 380 such cars were created.

The main equipment of this variant is WNA-H22 electro-hydraulic stabilizer, fire control computer, laser range finder, wind sensor, EMES 15 general purpose periscope, PERI R17 panoramic periscope, FERO Z18 turret sight, etc.

The following modifications were also created:

• Leopard 2A1 - the tank received minimal modifications and a gunner's thermal sight.

  Production ended in November 1983.

• Leopard 2A2 - the original PZB 200 sights of the first batch were replaced with EMES 15 thermal sights and a fence was installed around the front fuel tank openings.

  The tank also received a new five-meter towing cable.

  The 1987 program was closed.

• The Leopard 2A3 is the main difference in the installation of the new SEM80/90 digital radio and welding of the ammunition supply hatches.

• Leopard 2A4 is the most common version.

  The combat vehicles received an automatic fire extinguishing system, a completely digital fire control system for new types of ammunition, as well as an improved turret with flat titanium/tungsten armor.

• The Leopard 2A5 is the prototype of a series that was planned to improve the A4.

  It had a wedge-shaped tower with additional booking on the front and sides.

• Leopard 2A6 - received the new 120 mm Rheinmetall L55 smoothbore gun.

• Leopard 2A7 is not suitable for combat in an urban environment.

Leopard 2: tactical and technical characteristics

• weight

  — 62 tons (Leopard 2A6);

• length

  — 7.72 m (without cannon);

• width

  — 3.76 m;

• height

  — 3.03 m;

• crew

  — 4 people (commander, aimer, radio operator/loader, driver);

• armor

  — composite protection of the 3rd generation, additional modular protection;

• the main armament

  is a 120 mm smoothbore gun (42 shots);

• secondary armament

  — 2 × 7.62 mm MG-3 (4750 rounds);

• engine

  — MTU MB 873 12-cylinder diesel, 1103 kW (1500 hp);

• specific power

  — about 17.8 kW/t (24.2 hp/t) (depends on the modification);

• suspension

  — torsion-individual;

• operational range

  — about 500 km (cross-sectional area: about 161 km);

• speed

  — 68-72 km/h.

How much does a Leopard 2 tank cost?

Here, of course, everything depends on the modification.

For example, the new Leopard 2A6 costs about $6.79 million, and the price of the Leopard 2 A7+ can reach $10 million.

Read also:

• What is known about the M2 "Bradley" BMP, which the USA can transfer to Ukraine: characteristics, weapons, price

• Challenger 2: what is known about the tank that Britain may send to the Armed Forces