Dina Mahmoud (London)
The German Leopard 2 tanks appear to be one of the most important pieces of military equipment that the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to make intensive attempts to acquire, in order to enhance the capabilities of its forces, as the fighting in the country approaches its second year. Although the United Kingdom announced its readiness to supply Kyiv with British-made Challenger 2 tanks, along with dozens of self-propelled artillery pieces, in conjunction with a similar French readiness to supply the Ukrainian army with light combat tanks, this did not seem sufficient to compensate the government. Zelinsky, about the “Leopard 2”, which military experts agree has many advantages on the battlefield. This model, which entered service in 1979 and has undergone various developments since then, is known in Western military circles as among the best main battle tank models in the entire world, and among the most user-friendly at the same time.
And if Kyiv includes this model in its military arsenal, it will become the most advanced of all tanks used by the Ukrainian army, given that it exceeds in its capabilities what the Zelensky government previously obtained from Eastern European countries, in terms of tanks originally dating back to the Soviet era.
Even the less advanced versions of the “Leopard 2” contain modern optical sighting devices, including those that operate in a thermal imaging manner, which enables these tanks to participate efficiently in battles day and night. In addition, equipment for determining distances with laser beams increases the accuracy of its crew in detecting, pursuing and destroying targets. Despite the weight of this German-made tank, which, according to its manufacturers, is approximately 55 tons, it was designed in a way that allows it to move agilely and move at a speed, at its maximum, of about 44 miles per hour (more than 70 km / h). According to experts who spoke to the American newspaper, The Washington Post, the Leopard 2 design ensures greater protection for its crew members. For example, the ammunition storage site was chosen in such a way as to make it far from the place where the tank was operated. Experts say that this protects the crew from devastating explosions, resulting from any accidental accident related to ammunition, or being targeted by an attack from outside, as happens in Russian-made T-72 tanks, at times.
In addition, these tanks are powered by diesel engines, which makes it relatively easy for the Ukrainians to refuel them, and also gives them the ability to travel a distance of up to approximately 210 miles (more than 335 km), before they need to. for new fuel.
The ammunition used to load the Leopard 2 cannons, which have a caliber of 120 millimeters, is the same as that used by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Military experts say that the only competitor to the Leopard 2 in terms of main battle tank models is the American-made M1 Abrams, which entered service in 1980.
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