Russian bid to seize elite Swedish tank foiled by Ukrainian drones

The damage to the Stridsvagn 122 tank represents a significant loss for the Ukrainians. As one of their most formidable tanks, and given their limited number, transporting this machine to a secure location for examination and potentially integrating it into their forces was a highly appealing opportunity for the Russians.

Social media videos show how Ukrainians, utilizing drones, foiled the invaders' efforts by destroying Russian technical support vehicles, thereby preventing the tank’s transport.

The Stridsvagn 122 stands as one of the premier armored vehicles in the Ukrainian military. Esteemed by military personnel and experts alike, the Swedish tank is often celebrated for its prowess. Defense analyst Jarosław Wolski highlighted on the X platform that these are "the best and most heavily armored tanks at Ukraine's disposal".

While the Stridsvagn 122 builds on the Leopard 2A5's design, the Swedes incorporated several key modifications, enhancing its capabilities beyond its German counterpart. Among its standout features are a reinforced roof, stronger hull sides, more durable fuel tanks, an advanced fire control system akin to the Leopard 2A6, and a Tank Command and Control System (TCCS).

The Stridsvagn 122 is equipped with a 120 mm caliber smoothbore L/44 gun, alongside two 7.62 mm caliber machine guns, and an 80.5 mm caliber smoke grenade launcher. Its engine boasts 1500 horsepower, enabling the tank to reach speeds of up to 43.5 mph.

Russian losses comprised two armored recovery vehicles from the BREM family, often used to tow damaged heavy combat vehicles off the battlefield. Described by Moscow as "armored repair and recovery vehicles," they come in various models, including the likely lost BREM-1, based on the T-72 chassis, and the more familiar BREM-2, based on the BMP-1 chassis. At the Armija 2023 exhibition, Russia showcased the BREM T-16, utilizing the Armata platform.