TechLeopard 2A6. A European Titan Falls into Russian Hands

Leopard 2A6. A European Titan Falls into Russian Hands

Leopard 2A6 tank seized by the Russians.

Images source: © X (formerly Twitter) | Babak Taghvaee - The Crisis Watch

12:47 PM EDT, April 21, 2024

After months of effort, Russians succeeded in damaging and subsequently towing away a Leopard 2A6 tank from the frontline. This represents a significant loss, potentially offering Russians a treasure trove of insights into the Leopard 2 tanks. This article explores the capabilities of this advanced military machine and what the Russians might glean from it.

Western nations, in their support for Ukraine, have had to come to terms with the possibility of their advanced military hardware, like the Leopard tanks, falling into Russian hands. This incident follows previous occurrences where equipment such as the CV90 and M2A2 Bradley ODS was captured. It's anticipated that this Leopard 2A6 will undergo rigorous testing against Russian anti-tank munitions, with its armor possibly influencing the development of future Russian tanks, including the T-14 Armata.

Unfortunately for Ukraine, efforts to destroy the captured tank, whether by its crew or by other means, such as a drone strike, were unsuccessful. In Russia, this event has been greeted with enthusiasm, with predictions that the tank will be showcased at the Armija 2024 fair—a venue known for its array of unconventional and enthusiast-created military hardware.

Leopard 2A6 - Setting or surpassing the European standard

Introduced in the early 21st century, the Leopard 2A6 significantly upgrades the Leopard 2A5 model. This version boasts enhanced armor and a longer Rheinmetall Rh-120 L/55 cannon. This upgrade enables firing APFSDS-T penetrators at higher velocities, improving their penetration effectiveness.

Furthermore, the Leopard 2A6 has been equipped with advanced optoelectronics, which enables its crew to utilize a "hunter-killer" mode. In this mode, the commander identifies and targets enemies using a thermal imaging panoramic sight. This information is then used to direct the tank's cannon towards the target, with only minor adjustments needed by the gunner. This approach improves targeting efficiency and enemy engagement over traditional methods, where the gunner plays a central role based on commands from the tank commander.

This model was developed to offer a European response to Russia's top-tier tanks, such as the T-90M and T-80BWM. Russian forces' capture and study of this tank could compromise the operational security of NATO forces currently operating Leopard 2A6 or older versions, especially if upgrades to more advanced versions like the Leopard 2A8 are not promptly pursued.