For Ukraine, what’s so special about Germany’s Leopard 2 tanks?

In a statement final week, the Ukrainian overseas and protection ministers mentioned that whereas they welcomed Britain’s “bold and timely decision” to ship a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks, they have been “not sufficient to achieve operational goals.” They went on to attraction to nations “that have Leopard 2 tanks in service” to ship them to Ukraine.

For Berlin, the concentrate on the tanks has develop into a geopolitical headache — and the federal government of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far rebuffed calls to export the Leopard 2. Although this week, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock mentioned in an interview with French tv that her authorities “would not stand in the way” if Poland requested to ship its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Here’s what to know about the Leopard 2 and why Ukraine says it wants them.

Why does Ukraine desire the Leopard 2?

The Leopard 2 was first launched in 1979 and has since been upgraded a number of instances, gaining a fame as top-of-the-line predominant battle tanks on this planet.

It was designed by West German arms producer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann to interchange the unique Leopard tank, which entered service in 1965. The Leopard 2 is extra superior than most of the Soviet-era tanks fielded by each Russian and Ukrainian forces.

Even older variations of the tank have trendy optics, together with thermal imaging, that permit it to function day and evening, in addition to magnification and a laser vary finder to trace targets. The tanks are constructed to maneuver rapidly, with a most velocity of round 44 miles per hour regardless of their 55-ton weight, based on the producer.

The Leopard 2 additionally has a wide range of options designed to guard the crew. Compartmentalized ammunition storage avoids the devastating “jack-in-the-box” explosions seen with Russia’s T-72 tanks, the place ammunition is stored below the crew.

The tank is powered by a diesel engine, which is comparatively simple to refuel and offers the automobile an prolonged vary of about 210 miles on highway. It additionally makes use of standardized NATO 120mm ammunition, which might grant Ukraine entry to a bigger pool of suppliers than its present tanks, which require 125mm.

How many Leopard 2s are there, and the place are they positioned?

Researchers estimate there are greater than 2,000 Leopard 2 tanks in Europe. More than half are considered the older 2A4 and 2A5 variants, together with greater than 200 held in storage in Germany itself, in accordance to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for German arms group Rheinmetall advised native media that the corporate may ship 139 Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine if required, Reuters reported, though some wouldn’t arrive till the tip of the 12 months or in early 2024.

Many of these already exported from Germany have been sent to European nations or NATO member states equivalent to Canada and Turkey. Other nations which have purchased Leopard 2 tanks embody Singapore, Chile, and Qatar.

Ukraine has centered on the Leopard 2 partly as a result of there are so many in Europe, the place they may very well be transported to the battlefield with relative ease. But underneath offers with buying nations, the German government must sign off on any transfers.

In a note revealed in September, the European Council on Foreign Relations known as on Western nations to help a plan to ship Leopard 2s to Ukraine, saying that the “more that countries donate tanks, the easier it will be to share the burden of giving them away.”

What about the alternate options, together with the U.S. M1 Abrams?

When it involves predominant battle tanks, the Leopard 2 has one predominant rival: The U.S.-made M1 Abrams.

In service since 1980, the M1 Abrams has comparable specs to the Leopard 2, however some clear benefits. Modern variations have layers of depleted uranium armor safety that provide vital advantages to the crew inside.

In a phone call earlier this month, Scholz instructed to President Biden that to ensure that Germany to unlock a bundle of Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine, Washington ought to ship the M1 Abrams.

However, the Biden administration has argued that the U.S.-made tanks have numerous disadvantages for the sector in Ukraine.

They use jet gas, which is much tougher to acquire in comparison with the diesel utilized by the Leopard 2. Though the tank as soon as weighed 60 tons, it has ballooned in weight over time; new variations can weigh nearly 75 tons, which provides logistical difficulties. That’s loads of weight to drive over a bridge, for instance.

They even have sophisticated upkeep necessities, U.S. officers have advised reporters, and require specialised coaching.