Ukraine's battlefield boost: Ten advanced Stridsvagn 122 tanks from Sweden

The Ukrainian armed forces received ten Stridsvagn 122 tanks from Sweden, renowned for being among the top combat vehicles globally. A crew from one of these tanks has extended their thanks and warm wishes to their Swedish trainers. Let's delve into the specifications of this formidable northern armoured machine.

After undergoing an intensive two-month training session—a timeline significantly shorter than the usual 18 months—the Ukrainian crew of the Stridsvagn 122 has been effectively engaging Russian forces. Andrii, who serves as the loader and is recognized as the fastest in his team, has voiced his appreciation to the Swedish tutors for their invaluable instruction and assured them that they are doing well and are in good spirits.

Sweden procured a total of 120 Stridsvagn 122 tanks between 1994 and 2001. These aren't merely modified Leopard 2A4 tanks but were constructed afresh. Some were produced at the German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann facilities, but the majority were manufactured under license in Sweden by Åkers Krutbruk Protection AB.

In comparison to other Leopard 2A5 versions, the Stridsvagn 122 stands out due to enhanced protection around the turret roof and the hull's sides. This enhancement greatly increases their defense against RPG-7 anti-tank grenade launchers and cluster munition submunition attacks. It has also been demonstrated in combat situations that the Swedish models are the most adept Leopard 2 variant at withstanding attacks from both rudimentary "kamikaze" drones and the more sophisticated Lancet-3 drones.

The Stridsvagn 122 tanks come equipped with an advanced fire control system, surpassing the systems found in the A5 variants and on par with those in Leopard 2A6 models. They are also fitted with automatic Galix smoke grenade launchers and an enhanced fire suppression system. Despite these upgrades, these tanks maintain several features of the Leopard 2A5, including the distinct wedges on the turret and the standard Rheinmetall Rh-120 gun, 44 calibers in length, which is also used in the M1A2 Abrams tanks as the M256.

These tanks are incredibly effective, marking the zenith of important equipment deliveries that include the H77BW Archer howitzers, CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, and AT4 anti-tank grenade launchers.