According to the ranking of Army Technology Leopard 2A7+ battle tank rank amongst the highly advanced groundbreaking tank which is manufactured by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KWM), Germany.
The new 2A7+ tank is the further development of Leopard 2A6 Main Battle Tank (MBT), with upgraded protection and reconnaissance capabilities, it comprise some subsystem of Leopard 2 variant.
It is designed to operate urban warfare, low intensity conflict, or as conventional military operations. German army also plan to upgrade its 50-150 2A6 MBT's to 2A7+ standard.
Overview of Leopard 2A7+ Battle Tank:
As I mentioned it is designed to operate both in low intensity and high intensity conflicts, the upgraded element comprises additional composite armor kit, newest generation of passive armor which provide a high level shield against wide range threats, with that armor uses new nano-ceramics materials and modern titanium and steel alloys. The new armor also provide 360' protection against Rocket-Propelled Grenade RPG rounds.
The frontal protection has been enhanced with a dual-kit on the turret and hull front, which increase the survivability and mine protection of the tank especially in urban operations.
This MBT has a modular armor, means a damage module can be changed or replaced in the field.
Commander's station of the Leopard 2A7+ integrate a new PERI RTWL stabilized glass optical periscope for day & night reconnaissance over long distances.
The periscope comprises of a third-generation Attica thermal imaging device, a daylight CCD camera, an image fusion purpose, fiber optical gyros, and an eye-safe laser span-finder.
The system of gunner is fitted with an EMES 15 stabilized main sight and a FERO Z18 auxiliary sighting telescope, which provided a combined thermal image/ image intensifier night vision for front and rear view.
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| FERO Z18 |
- Country of Origin Germany
- In service 2014
- Crew 4 men
- Engine MTU MB-873 Ka-501 diesel
- Total Weight 67.5t
- Turret forward (gun) 10.97m
- Hull length 7.7m
- Width 4m
- Height 3m
- Main Gun 120mm smoothbore
- Machine Gun 1x 12.7mm, 1x 7.62mm
- Elevation Range -9 to + 20 degrees
- Traverse Range 360 degrees
- Main Gun Load 42 rounds
- Engine Power 1,500hp
- Max road speed 72km/h reverse (31km/h)
- Range 450km
- Gradient 60%
- Side slope 30%
- Vertical step 3m
- Turret rotation time 360 degree in 9 second
Deal of 2A7+ MBT's:
After the revealing of 2A7 battle tank in Eurosatory Exhibition in France, several countries shows their interest in this technology system. Saudi Arabia was the first foreign buyer who signed a big deal of 200 battle tank, approved by German Security Council in July 2011. But, deal was cancelled later in 2015.
Kuwait placed an order with KMW for 62 tanks the year 2013, were the first batch of tanks was delivered to Qatar Forces in 2015. After 3 years, Hungarian Defense Forces signed a contract with KMW over 44 Leopard 2A7+ tanks, deliveries were scheduled between 2021 to 2025.
Denmark will receive 44 2A7 MBT's by 2022 while Germany will receive 104 upgraded 2A7+ tanks by 2023. Let's check out the list of 2A4, 2A6 & 2A7 operators and buyers:
- Austria 104 2A4's
- Canada 80 2A4's and 20 2A6's
- Chile 172 including 2A4's and 2A5's
- Denmark 57 2A5's (plan to upgrade 44 as A7 standard)
- Finland 100-150 2A4's and 2A6's (not confirm exact no)
- Germany 250 but will increased to 328 as A6 and A7 tanks
- Greece 183 2A4's and 170 2A6's HEL
- Hungary 44 2A7's and 12 2A4's (delivered by 2025)
- Indonesia 41 2A4's (deal sign)
- Norway 36 2A4's operational
- Portugal 37 2A6's
- Qatar 62 2A7's
- Singapore 18 2A4's
- Sweden 122 2A4's
- Switzerland 80 2A4's
- Turkey 354 2A4's (84 were modernized)
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