Ukraine's upgraded Leopards: New armor and fire control shine

The war in Ukraine has shown the necessity of continuously improving combat machines. Both Ukrainians and Russians are doing this, with the latter repeatedly proving their ability to respond to dynamic conditions during battles. One of the latest innovations on the front involves equipping drones with canisters of flammable materials, including thermite. This combination has turned small unmanned aerial vehicles into flying flamethrowers, literally “dousing” the enemy with flames from the air.

Modernizations are also being made to tanks, as reported by the Ukrainian portal Defense Express, citing materials published by soldiers of the 5th Independent Tank Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Military photos show that Ukrainians have upgraded basic Leopard 1s to the Leopard 1A5V version, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the vehicles during the conflict.

A key enhancement decided upon by the Ukrainians involves strengthening the armor. This was achieved, among other things, by using protective shields, which primarily serve to protect against the increasingly common threat on the front, namely drones. Special protective nets are also used against unmanned aerial vehicles, "intercepting" drones as they head toward the tank.

Also significant is the presence of reactive armor, which is found on the front part of the tank (including the lower part), on the turret, and on the sides. The Ukrainian-modernized Leopards also have reinforcements in the area connecting the turret to the hull.

Besides enhancing the German machines' defensive capabilities, Ukrainians also emphasize two main advantages of the Leopards. First and foremost is the fire control system with a sighting device that allows for attacking even at night and striking enemy units at a distance of 2.5 miles. This is due to the presence of the EMES-18 system in the Leopard 1A5s, an upgrade from the EMES-15 in the Leopard 2A4. Importantly, regarding targeting accuracy, as noted by Defense Express, the 105 mm caliber shells used by this tank are sufficient to destroy Russian T-72, T-80, or T-90 tanks during frontal assaults.

The Ukrainians also highlight the mobility of German vehicles. They point out that the Leopards achieve high speeds in reverse and can quickly accelerate when moving forward. This is a valuable advantage as it allows the crew to react swiftly in demanding situations. The Leopard 1A5 can accelerate up to 40 mph (on the road), thanks to its 10-cylinder MTU MB 838 Ca-M 500 engine, which generates power up to 830 hp.