Leopard 2a4 tanks headed to Ukraine for summer frontline boost

Ukraine will soon receive an additional batch of Leopard 2A4 tanks. The Netherlands and Denmark purchased these machines for Kyiv in 2023. In recent months, the tanks have been refurbished by the German company Rheinmetall and tested to prove their effectiveness. The Leopard 2A4 tanks will be in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers before the end of summer. Let's revisit what makes these machines significant.

"Ukraine urgently needs additional military support given the heavy fighting on the battlefield. These tanks can play an important role in defending the Ukrainian army against Russian forces. Together with our allies and partners, the Netherlands will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. This is crucial for the defense of Ukraine and deterring Putin's aggression," conveyed Ruben Brekelmans, the Dutch Minister of Defense. He also added that the Leopard 2A4 tanks have significant firepower, provide good crew protection, and are fast.

The Leopard 2A4 is one of the tank models that Ukraine has received from its allies. This version is an evolution of the Leopard 2 tank—the world's first third-generation main battle tank—developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It represents a high level of protection; therefore, it's not surprising that the machines are being upgraded before delivery to Ukraine. Additionally, the Ukrainians are enhancing the protection of the Leopard 2A4 tanks by adding reactive armor tiles Kontakt-1.

Despite their age, the Leopard 2A4 tanks are still considered among the best main battle tanks in the world. The machines have a length of about 33 feet and weigh 121,000 pounds. In practice, this means they are slightly heavier than the various T-72 tank variants also in the Ukrainian army's inventory. On the other hand, they remain lighter than the Abrams M1A1 tanks, which weigh up to 145,000 pounds. The high firepower in this variant is provided by a 120 mm Rheinmetall L/44 smoothbore gun. Additionally, the tank is armed with a coaxial 7.62 mm MG3A1 machine gun and another 7.62 mm MG3A1 machine gun.

It is worth noting that the Netherlands and Denmark are part of an international coalition supplying Ukraine with modern combat tanks. This coalition also includes Germany. The countries are acquiring both Leopard 1 tanks and newer versions, Leopard 2 tanks, for Kyiv.