Ukraine adapts Leopard 2 tanks with reactive armor for drones
Ukraine has received only a few Leopard 2 tanks in the A6 version, which is the latest and still forms the core of many NATO countries' armored forces. However, the realities of the battlefield there required modifications. Here's what the Ukrainians did and why.
Currently, the biggest threat to tanks in Ukraine, apart from the few modern anti-tank guided missile launchers, are FPV drones controlled via fiber optics.
Unlike previous solutions, jammers do not work on these drones. The only protection against them is to shoot them down before they reach their target or to reinforce the armor. Anti-drone defense for tanks is still new, and currently, only the latest versions of the Israeli Trophy system provide protection. As a result, covering vulnerable elements with blocks of reactive armor, as the Ukrainians do, remains a key strategy.
In the photos below, you can see blocks placed on the hull sides and the upper and lower front plates of the Leopard 2A6. On the sides, you can see the popular Kontakt-1 blocks, while those on the front appear to be Ukrainian "Knife" blocks. These provide effective defense against single-warhead PG-7VL grenades, which are commonly carried by drones.
Leopard 2A6 tank - until recently the pinnacle of European armored technology
The Leopard 2A6 tank, from the early 21st century, continues the legacy of previous versions of this German machine. In its latest version, the armor has been significantly improved, and it is equipped with a longer Rheinmetall Rh-120 L/55 cannon. This allows APFSDS-T shells to achieve higher muzzle velocity, enhancing their effectiveness in penetrating armored targets and improving precision over long distances.
The Leopard 2A6 is also equipped with advanced optoelectronics. Modern thermal sights with higher resolution enable better target detection and elimination capabilities. Furthermore, a "hunter-killer" mode of operation for the crew has been introduced. Thanks to his own panoramic thermal sight, the tank commander can select targets without involving the gunner in the initial phase of target acquisition. This system allows for faster and more effective destruction of the enemy.
This change significantly facilitates quick targeting and neutralization of threats, offering operational advantages. The Leopard 2A6 was created as Europe's ultimate response to the advanced Russian tanks from the late USSR, directly related to the T-90M and T-80BWM.
