TechEuropean coalition shapes up for Leopard 2A8 tank orders

European coalition shapes up for Leopard 2A8 tank orders

A significant armored coalition is taking shape in Europe, which could see Germany's industry bagging an order for several hundred Leopard 2A8 tanks. In this article, we'll explore the features of these tanks and highlight the countries showing interest in them.

Leopard 2A8 tank at the IDET 2023 exhibition.
Leopard 2A8 tank at the IDET 2023 exhibition.
Images source: © Militarny.ua

The conflict in Ukraine has prodded European NATO members to reconsider developing or rebuilding their own armored divisions. Thus far, Germany has decided to procure 18 Leopard 2A8 tanks as part of a framework agreement from May 2023, with the potential to purchase up to 123 tanks. Shortly after, the governments of the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, and the Netherlands expressed interest in the tanks.

Collectively, this coalition could order hundreds of tanks. The Czech Republic and Lithuania alone have expressed interest in acquiring 70 and 54 Leopard 2A8s respectively.

The Leopard 2A8: A European Armored Behemoth Adapted for Modern Reality

The Leopard 2A8 tanks represent the first significant improvement in tank design compared to the Leopard 2A7 model, which has been on the market for 15 years. In this updated design, more modern armor materials are used, and an important active defense system is incorporated.

In today's defensive landscape, an active defense system is an essential feature engineered to protect tanks from anti-tank guided missiles, which can penetrate up to 3.3 feet of steel armor. These missiles often target the side armor of tanks, which provides considerably less protection than the front armor.

Footage from conflicts in Ukraine and Israel exhibit frequent instances of such ambushes. Turkey also experienced a similar predicament a few years ago during its fights with the Islamic State (ISIS). Turkey lost at least 10 Leopard 2A4 tanks in the battle for Al-Bab in December 2016.

This necessitated the Leopard 2 tank designers to incorporate the Trophy system, developed by the Israeli company Rafael. This system's primary responsibility is to intercept and neutralize incoming missiles from any direction. The same technology is also used in the M1A2 SEP V3 Abrams tanks, employing radars and missile interceptors to eliminate threats.

It's worth noting that in the case of Leopard 2A8 tanks, this system hasn't merely been added onto the turret—as with the Leopard 2A7A1/2A7V model—but has been fully integrated with it. Furthermore, the tank's roof has been reinforced to withstand attacks from cluster weapons, akin to the Puma APC and PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer defenses. In line with this, Igelpanzerung mats were used on the tank roof.

The Leopard 2A8 tank retains its existing weaponry, consisting of a 4.7-inch caliber gun with a length of 216.5 inches, rather than, for example, the 5.1-inch gun proposed by Rheinmetall for their future tank KF51 Panther. In addition, the entire optoelectronic system has been updated with the most recent solutions, and the tank's interior has been significantly modernized and digitized, thereby enhancing the crew's effectiveness and operational speed.

Related content

© essanews.com
·

Downloading, reproduction, storage, or any other use of content available on this website—regardless of its nature and form of expression (in particular, but not limited to verbal, verbal-musical, musical, audiovisual, audio, textual, graphic, and the data and information contained therein, databases and the data contained therein) and its form (e.g., literary, journalistic, scientific, cartographic, computer programs, visual arts, photographic)—requires prior and explicit consent from Wirtualna Polska Media Spółka Akcyjna, headquartered in Warsaw, the owner of this website, regardless of the method of exploration and the technique used (manual or automated, including the use of machine learning or artificial intelligence programs). The above restriction does not apply solely to facilitate their search by internet search engines and uses within contractual relations or permitted use as specified by applicable law.Detailed information regarding this notice can be found  here.

We value your privacy

essanews.com is a part of Wirtualna Polska media company. Click "I ACCEPT AND GO TO THE WEBSITE" to give your consent to the use of automated technologies to collect and use data on the Internet, and to the processing of your personal data by Wirtualna Polska, IAB Trusted Partners (870 partners) and other Trusted Partners (403 partners), and to our sharing with the aforementioned Trusted Partners of the identifiers assigned to you for marketing purposes (including for automated matching of advertisements to your interests and for measuring their effectiveness) and for other purposes that we specify below. You can also make decisions about permissions in the Advanced settings.


Based on your consent, Wirtualna Polska, IAB Trusted Partners and other Trusted Partners will process your personal data collected on the Internet (including on e-commerce partners' websites), including through forms, such as IP addresses, your device identifiers and cookie identifiers, and other identifiers assigned to you and information about your activity on the Internet. The data will be processed for the following purpose: to store or access information on a device, use limited data to select advertising, create profiles for personalized advertising, use profiles to select personalized advertising, create profiles related to personalize content, use profiles to select personalized content, measure advertising performance, measure content performance, understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources, develop and improve services, use limited data to select content.


Within the framework of its functions and special functions, Wirtualna Polska may take the following actions:

  1. Match and combine data from other data sources
  2. Link different devices
  3. Identify devices based on information transmitted automatically
  4. Actively scan device characteristics for identification

The purposes of processing of your data by IAB Trusted Partners and other Trusted Partners are as follows:

  1. Store and/or access information on a device
  2. Use limited data to select advertising
  3. Create profiles for personalised advertising
  4. Use profiles to select personalised advertising
  5. Create profiles to personalise content
  6. Use profiles to select personalised content
  7. Measure advertising performance
  8. Measure content performance
  9. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources
  10. Develop and improve services
  11. Use limited data to select content
  12. Ensure security, prevent and detect fraud, and fix errors
  13. Deliver and present advertising and content
  14. Save and communicate privacy choices

Within the framework of the functions and special functions, our IAB Trusted Partners and Trusted Partners may take the following actions:

  1. Match and combine data from other data sources
  2. Link different devices
  3. Identify devices based on information transmitted automatically
  4. Actively scan device characteristics for identification

In order to take the above action, our IAB Trusted Partners and other Trusted Partners also need your consent, which you can give by clicking "I ACCEPT AND GO TO THE WEBSITE" or make a decision regarding the consent in Advanced settings.


The purposes of processing your data without a need to obtain your consent based on the legitimate interest of Wirtualna Polska and IAB Trusted Partners are stated, and the option to object to the processing, is available in Advanced settings.


The purposes, special purposes, features and special features of the data processing are described in detail in the Advanced Settings.


Here you can find the websites of our e-commerce partners, from which we may process your personal data on the basis of your consent.


The consent is voluntary and you can withdraw it at any time after reopening the settings window by clicking on the "Privacy Settings" link located in the footer of each website.


Please note that by giving your consent, your data may be transferred to our Trusted Partners in third countries, i.e. countries outside the European Economic Area.


You have the right to request access, rectification, deletion, restriction, transfer of data processing, file an objection, file a complaint with the regulatory authority under the terms of the Privacy Policy.


To change your privacy preferences, you can click on the Advanced Settings or "Privacy Settings" link located in the footer of each website where you can provide or withdraw consent or otherwise manage your choices. Detailed information about the processing of your personal data can be found in the privacy policy.