The modernized German Leopard 2A7+ significantly gained weight and lost mobility.
Macaristan'da sergilenen Leopard 2A7 ve temel özellikleri pic.twitter.com/y3ZiQ2Ia1I
— KARABASAN (@kimlikci_954) August 30, 2021
One of these tanks was recently demonstrated at an exhibition in Hungary. A shield with fairly detailed technical characteristics was installed next to it. In particular, the specified weight is 67.5 tons. If we recall the 55-ton Leopard 2A4 released in the second half of the 80s, the weight gain was more than 12,000 kg.
The old 1500-horsepower MTU MB 873 Ka 501 diesel engine with a capacity of 1500 hp remained on the combat vehicle, and the maximum speed is now 60 km/h, not 68 km/h, as before.
The fuel reserve is 550 km. The length of the tank is 10968 mm, height-3180 mm, width-3774 mm.
The tank has a reinforced reservation, including side projections and the bottom. In the latter case, mine protection increases.
The main weapon is the smoothbore 120-mm Rheinmetall L55, which is considered the most powerful of the mass-produced foreign guns capable of using new armor-piercing sub-caliber shells. A 7.62 mm FN MAG machine gun is paired with it. There are also smoke grenade launchers.
The fire control system has been refined, for example, more advanced thermal imaging cameras have been used.
In total, the Hungarian Armed Forces have purchased 44 Leopard 2A7+ main battle tanks and 12 Leopard 2A4 training tanks, which they plan to replace the existing T-72M1.
Alexey Brusilov
