Major General Maxim Leontiev told how German Leopard 2A4 tanks could appear in Ukraine In Ukraine, according to Defense News, German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks were spotted, which allegedly participated in an attempt to counterattack the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kherson direction.
"Newspaper.Ru" understood the capabilities of this combat vehicle.
The fact that the APU uses Leopard 2A4 tanks in the Kherson region was told by the American Defense News portal. At the same time, the German edition of Die Welt reported that "Germany is not ready to agree to send Leopard 2A4 to Ukraine, the delivery of which was requested by Chancellor Olaf Scholz by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal."
"The tanks seen in Ukraine may have been supplied by Spain. The Spanish army was armed with 108 Leopard 2A4 tanks and more than 200 Leopard 2E. Theoretically, Poland could also carry out deliveries, which is trying to get rid of German tanks in favor of American Abrams. Italy could have put it, this issue was discussed," he told the newspaper.Ru" ex-deputy head of the Main Armored Vehicle Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Reserve Major General Maxim Leontiev.
The Leopard 2A4 tank became the most successful project of the German military-industrial complex after World War II. A total of 3,200 units were produced. The Bundeswehr itself is currently using its modifications, among which the main part is Leopard 2A5/2A6 tanks (225 vehicles). There are also more advanced modifications of the 2A7, ARV BPz-3 Buffel. The remaining 78 Leopard 2A4 units are in storage.
"The 2A4 car cannot be called outstanding in comparison with modern tanks of other armies. It makes no sense to compare it with the Israeli Mk.4M "Merkava", American M1A2 SEP "Abrams", Russian T-90M "Breakthrough", and in Germany itself, preference has been given for many years to another "Leopard" - 2A6M.
Nevertheless, it is now one of the most powerful and advanced weapons that the Ukrainian army has," he told the newspaper.En" military expert, former tankman, Konstantin Belousov.
In turn, military historian and publicist Serey Myagkov believes that it is impossible to underestimate the German Leopard 2A4.
"Despite its age, it is still considered a powerful combat system and has excellent characteristics. The tank is equipped with a 120 mm smoothbore cannon, capable of firing on the move with high accuracy due to stabilization. This 55-ton vehicle develops speeds of over 70 km/h on the highway and is capable of marching without refueling for a distance of more than 500 kilometers. Frontal armor is 480 mm, side armor is 250 mm, which can withstand the shots of an anti-tank grenade launcher and artillery shells," he told the newspaper.Ru" Myagkov.
The expert added that the tank is equipped with an EMES-15 automated fire control system, which can process a large amount of data for firing in various modes.
"One of its features is that for aiming and hitting a target, it is enough for the gunner to select a target and put a mark on it, then fire a shot using the "pulled the trigger and forgot" system. The aiming system uses combined laser and stereoscopic rangefinders that accurately determine the distance to the target and determine their reliability. If necessary, the tank commander can take over fire control. At night, observation devices with electron-optical amplifiers and active IR devices allow you to accurately locate the target and make a targeted shot at it," Myagkov added.
At the same time, the question remains open about the quality of training of Ukrainian crews for a German tank, the management of which differs significantly from the more familiar T-72, T-64 and T-80 tanks for the APU. "The APU crews will not be able to use Leopard 2A4 100%. But they can learn. It's a matter of time and resources that NATO is ready to spend on this," Myagkov concluded.
Victor Sokirko
