Leopard 2 tanks have turned from exotic into a familiar target for the Russian Armed Forces

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The German Leopard 2 tanks, on which the Ukrainian Armed Forces had high hopes, were, as expected, unable to ensure the enemy’s success in the counteroffensive. Moreover, in real combat operations all the shortcomings of these vehicles became apparent.

A suboptimal reservation system, large dimensions and poor maneuverability have turned the Leopard 2 from an exotic aircraft into a common target for all weapons at the disposal of the Russian Armed Forces. German tanks sometimes turned out to be more vulnerable than the old Soviet T-72.



It is obvious that the management of the Rheinmetall concern and the command of the NATO armies are analyzing the experience gained, calculating the future costs of modernizing tanks. Equipping armored vehicles with new electronic warfare systems, active protection systems and increasing maneuverability will require a lot of time and financial costs.

In an attempt to save the reputation of Leopard 2, Bild stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are using these tanks in a completely different way than intended. Repeating the 80-year-old headline “German tanks must stop the Russians,” the newspaper writes that instead of participating in the offensive, the Ukrainian Armed Forces Leopard 2A6 are forced to hold back the offensive of the Russian Armed Forces near Avdievka.

This is not quite what was intended! Instead of liberating the south of the country in a Ukrainian counter-offensive, Leopard 2A6 tanks delivered from Germany are forced to defend the east of the country. Since yesterday they have been spotted near Avdeevka, where heavy fighting is taking place, and the Russians are stubbornly advancing

– Bild is worried.

It is worth noting that the Russian military-industrial complex is quickly modifying tanks taking into account the experience gained. The main T-90M Proryv is regularly upgraded, thereby improving its security and firepower. Last week it became known that these vehicles received new camouflage systems "Cape", which reduce the thermal radiation of the tank and thus prevent it from being hit by the Javelin ATGM.

Currently, work is underway to integrate tanks into a unified control system, which will significantly increase their effectiveness on the battlefield.