Ukraine's upgraded Leopard tanks take on Russian forces

The Leopard 1A5 is one of the most frequently seen NATO tanks on the front. So far, Ukraine's allies have pledged to deliver over 160 of these tanks. Some have been serving in the Ukrainian army for many months, with more being systematically delivered, mainly thanks to the efforts of Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

The Ukrainian Ground Forces released a video featuring statements from members of one of these tank crews. Soldiers using the Leopard 1A5 had previously served with Soviet-era T-64 and T-72 tanks, and they compared the German design to these models.

Ukrainians praise the Leopard 1A5 primarily for its mobility, maneuverability, user-friendly operation, and superior combat capabilities—these are the features that distinguish it from Soviet-era tanks. Although it is equipped with a 105 mm caliber gun, its significant advantage is the high accuracy resulting from a good fire control system.

The designers of this tank applied the EMES 18 fire control system with a thermal sight, based on the EMES 15 system from the initial variants of the Leopard 2. In engagements with older Russian tanks lacking thermal imaging, such equipment is invaluable—it allows for faster detection and elimination of the enemy.

Regarding the modifications made by Ukrainians, they emphasized primarily anti-drone nets to increase the level of protection against Russian drones and additional reactive armor blocks to enhance protection against projectiles with shaped charge warheads. The most commonly used blocks are the Kontakt-1 type.

According to one Ukrainian soldier, despite the additional weight, the engine power of the Leopard 1A5 (830 hp) proves sufficient. The tank can accelerate to about 40 mph on the road and about 25 mph off-road. It also has good acceleration and moves relatively quickly in reverse gear, which often aids Ukrainians during operations requiring attack and quick retreat.