Because allocating the delivery of the Main Battle Tank (MBT) Leopard 2A6 to Ukraine, the German Ministry of Defense is now considering a replacement, no half-hearted, the German Army has the potential to get the latest MBT from the Leopard family, namely the Leopard 2A8.
According to information from Europäische Sicherheit & Technik, the 18 Leopard 2A6 MBTs supplied by Germany to the Ukrainian military will be replaced with the same number of Leopard 2A8 MBTs. This replaces the previous option, in which the German Army was reported to be getting the Leopard 2A7+ MBT variant.
The Leopard 2A8 is the latest version of the Leopard 2 MBT produced by the German company, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). This tank is the result of development and improvement over the previous variant, the Leopard 2A7+, and is designed to provide higher performance on the modern battlefield.
Equipped with a new engine and active protection system, the Leopard 2A8 is developed based on the Leopard 2A7HU (Hungary) model – Hungary ordered 44 units of this variant in 2018. Meanwhile, the Leopard 2A8 is expected to serve as a stepping stone towards a more advanced version of the tank with first deliveries expected around year 2025.
The Leopard 2A8 will have several improvements over its predecessor, the Leopard 2A7+ including a new armor package, which provides increased protection against a wide range of threats including RPGs and mines.
The Leopard 2A8 will also be equipped with an improved situational awareness and communications system, as well as an improved fire control system.
According to information from open sources, the Leopard 2A8 will have state-of-the-art protection utilizing 3rd generation multilayer composite armor throughout its structure. This innovative armor includes high hardness steel, tungsten, plastic fillers and ceramic components, offering excellent protection for the tank and its crew.
Even more protected, the Leopard 2A8 will be integrated with the Rafael Trophy Active Protection System (APS). The Trophy APS, developed by Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, is designed to detect and intercept incoming projectiles, providing an additional layer of protection for the tank and its crew.
In terms of weapons, the Leopard 2A8 will retain the same main armament as the Leopard 2A7+ – namely the 120 mm caliber L55 cannon. German company Rheinmetall has engineered a 120 mm smoothbore gun, the L55, as a direct replacement for the existing L44 120 mm smoothbore gun, which is standard armament for all series 2 Leopard MBTs.
The L55's barrel was 1.30 meters longer than the L44's gun, resulting in a substantial increase in muzzle velocity. This improvement is especially noticeable when firing the new Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot-Tracer (APFSDS-T) ammunition, which contains more propellant and features a new penetrator design.
The L55's 120mm barrel design allows for higher pressure loads to be maintained over the longer barrel section compared to the existing L44 barrel. This feature prepares the L55's barrel in anticipation of future interior ballistics, which are expected to exhibit a wider maximum pressure than currently observed pressure peaks.
The Leopard 2A8 is designed to operate in extreme temperatures and adverse weather conditions. This tank is equipped with a good cooling and heating system, so that it can provide comfort for the tank crew during battle.
With a combination of these advantages, the Leopard 2A8 is expected to provide superiority on the modern battlefield and can become a reliable and effective main battle tank for the armed forces that use it.
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