NATO showcases Ukrainian tank training with advanced Leopard 2A4
A film detailing the training of Ukrainians on operating Leopard 2A4 tanks was posted on NATO's official YouTube channel. The material features an instructor from the Leopard Training Center, Marcin Chrabąszcz, and a Norwegian military officer whose identity remains concealed, discussing these machines, which are also used by the Polish army.
8:36 AM EDT, July 31, 2024
Ukrainians are being trained in Poland by instructors from NATO member states – Norway and Poland. Both countries are working with the defending army to enhance their capability to defend against the aggressor.
Trains soldiers on Leopards, evaluates Polish tanks
Marcin Chrabąszcz from the Polish Army emphasized the importance of the support being given to Ukrainians, highlighting that a Ukrainian victory "is in our interest, because we could be next when it comes to war."
Moreover, Chrabąszcz assessed the capabilities of the Leopard 2A4. His opinion is positive, focusing primarily on mobility. "It is a tank constructed with maneuver warfare in mind, meaning it is very mobile and has a very advanced fire control system," he stated.
Norwegian soldier also praises Leopards
Similarly, a Norwegian soldier, who did not reveal his identity in the NATO film, spoke positively about the Leopard 2A4. "The Leopard 2A4 is the fastest on the battlefield. It is the first to arrive at a location,” he said.
Both soldiers highlighted the mobility of the Leopard 2A4, which is due to the German design’s MTU power unit, which has 1500 horsepower and propels the vehicle to a speed of around 44 mph. The Leopard 2A4's suspension with torsion bars is also noteworthy in terms of mobility.
The fire control system is based on the DigBal Digital FCS set. The ballistic computer for effective firing uses data from environmental and movement sensors, as well as the EMES 15 laser rangefinder. Some models of the Leopard 2A4 are equipped with the PZB 200 night vision camera, which was later replaced by the WBG-X thermal imaging system in subsequent production stages.
The Leopard 2A4's main gun is a standard 120 mm smoothbore gun with a barrel length of 44 calibers, identical to that on older versions of the Leopard 2. The vehicle's third-generation armor includes tungsten, a material with a density similar to depleted uranium, which is used in the armor of M1 Abrams tanks.
The combat weight of the Leopard 2A4 exceeds 60 tons, with a length of nearly 32 feet, a width of over 11 feet, and a height of almost 8 feet. The fuel tanks have a total capacity of about 320 gallons, allowing this Western machine to travel approximately 342 miles without needing to refuel.
