Leopard tank's upgraded armor withstands drone strikes in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine is a rigorous test for all equipment and its modifications. Surprisingly, even tanks like the Leopard 1A5, often considered outdated, have shown effective protection capabilities. Let's explore the secret behind their resilience.
A video recently surfaced online, showing a Ukrainian Leopard 1A5 tank surviving hits from 12 FPV drones, with only the final strikes causing a fire. According to the Militarnyj portal, the status of the crew is unknown. However, the footage from the 12th FPV drone's camera (despite its terribly poor quality) seems to show one of the open hatches on the turret.
The lack of fire at that moment suggests that at least some of the crew might have managed to evacuate. This is an impressive outcome for a tank whose armor is largely symbolic. It's noteworthy that the Ukrainians have significantly reinforced the tank against attacks using simple single warheads, which are commonly employed by drones.
Leopard 1A5 sustained several hits on the roof and front armor—where the ammunition storage is located—and the rest in the engine section, which ultimately immobilized the tank and caused a fire.
Leopard 1A5 - a useful relic from Europe
The Leopard 1A5 tanks are a modernization of a machine that dates back to the 1960s. A noteworthy feature is the EMES 18 fire control system, which evolved from the EMES 15 system used in the early Leopard 2 models.
The core of the system is a thermal imaging sight for the gunner, paired with a ballistic computer that significantly enhances the ability to detect, identify, and accurately target objects several miles away, even at night or in adverse weather conditions.
The downside is the lack of substantial armor. The tank is protected by a maximum of 2.8 inches of armored steel, reinforced with Lexan panels (a type of polycarbonate), which offers protection primarily against artillery fragments and certain automatic guns.
To address this, the Ukrainians have developed an upgrade package utilizing reactive armor blocks such as Kontakt-1 and/or "Knife," combined with layers of mesh spaced from the main armor to prematurely detonate cumulative warheads.
Improvised solution by Ukrainians — enough for Russian homemade weapons
The concept is essentially similar to the Russian "armored barns," using whatever materials are available. It's crucial to note that commonly used PG-7VL grenades from RPG-7 grenade launchers, often mounted on FPV drones that can penetrate 20 inches of armored steel, have limited effectiveness due to the intended burn-through effect occurring precisely 1.6 feet from the explosion point.
If a grenade detonates 28 inches away from the armor due to a mesh or another obstacle, its cumulative jet—capable of piercing the 20-inch armor—won't cause harm. Meanwhile, reactive armor disrupts this jet with a shock wave and fragments. However, the underlying armor must withstand the explosion of cartridges containing, for example, Kontakt-1, which has approximately 9 ounces of explosive material.
For basic PG-7VL grenades and similar threats, this constitutes effective protection. But if FPV drones carrying heavier dual-warhead grenades, such as PG-7VR, are encountered, this defense becomes inadequate. The first warhead clears the obstacle, allowing the larger one to explode under optimal conditions.
