As the war in Ukraine draws to a close in its first year, Kyiv is pushing Western allies to provide modern battle tanks to counter Russian forces, as there has been talk for some time now about a specific model Ukrainians specifically want, namely Leopard tanks. 2 German made.
But why does Ukraine prefer this particular type of tank? How does it differ, for example, from its American Abrams or other tanks?
Other countries have offered different tanks, such as the UK, which pledged 14 Challenger 2 models earlier this month.
But the speed and ease of use of the Leopard 2, and the fact that there are already so many of them in Europe, have made it more attractive to Kyiv.
The most advanced in the Soviet era
The Leopard 2 was first introduced in 1979 and has since been upgraded several times, earning a reputation as one of the best main battle tanks in the world.
It was developed by the West German weapons manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann to replace the original Leopard tank, which entered service in 1965.
The Leopard II is also more advanced than many Soviet-era tanks in service with both Russian and Ukrainian forces.
Even older versions of the tank have modern optics, including a thermal imager for day and night operation, as well as a zoom and laser rangefinder for target tracking.
Fast despite its weight
According to the manufacturer, the tank is designed to move at a maximum speed of about 44 miles per hour, despite its 55-ton weight.
The Leopard 2 also has many features designed to protect the crew.
It is powered by a diesel engine that is relatively easy to refuel and gives it an extended range of about 210 miles on the road.
It also uses standard NATO 120mm ammunition, which will give Ukraine access to a wider range of suppliers than current tanks that require 125mm ammunition.
How many Leopard 2’s and where are they located?
In addition, researchers estimate that there are more than 2,000 Leopard 2 tanks in Europe.
More than half of these are believed to be older 2A4s and 2A5s, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, including over 200 of them stored in Germany itself.
Ukraine has focused on this type of tank precisely because there are plenty of them in Europe and they can be taken to the battlefield with relative ease. But agreements with buyer countries require the German government to sign and approve them before they can be exported.
