Germany Displays Leopard 2A7V, The Bundeswehr's Advanced MBT Arsenal
Although the Main Battle Tank (MBT) Leopard 2A6 is not the most sophisticated in the Leopard 2 series family, the news of the fall of the Leopard 2A6 MBT in the Ukrainian war has prompted Berlin to prepare for an increase in the capabilities of the most advanced Leopard 2 MBT arsenal in the arsenal of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr).
Because the Leopard 2A8 is still in the production stage, the most advanced variant of the Leopard Bundeswehr MBT is the Leopard 2A7V (V for "verbessert", i.e., improved), which was launched in 2016.
The Leopard 2A7V began operating with the German Army through a ceremony to hand over the first four units on September 15, 2021, in Bad Frankenhausen, where the first operational unit was the Panzerbataillon (PzBtl) 393.
And the latest update from armyrecognition.com (dated June 22, 2023) stated that on June 17, 2023, the 1st Panzer Division of the German Army introduced the latest MBT Leopard 2A7V featuring innovative military technology.
Originally unveiled by German defense company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), now KNDS, at the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris in 2016, the Leopard 2A7V represents the continuing evolution of Germany's flagship MBT.
This development was carried out in response to the upgrades planned for the previous Leopard 2A6, in line with the Bundeswehr procurement projects announced between 2017 and 2018.
The Leopard 2A7V MBT offers a conventional layout for modern MBTs, with the driver positioned on the right front side, the turret in the center, and the powerpack at the rear.
Germany's most advanced MBT is manned by a crew of four: a driver, a commander, a gunner, and an ammunition loader.
Hailed as one of the most protective modern tanks, the Leopard 2A7V integrates advanced modular composite armor mounted on the front glacis plate and turret.
This advanced armor arrangement promises 360-degree protection to the crew from a variety of threats, including anti-tank missiles, mines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs).
The Leopard 2A7V is armed with a Rheinmetall 120 mm L/55 smoothbore cannon.
The cannon in the Leopard 2A7V is capable of firing Rheinmetall 120mm DM53 Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot-Tracer (APFSDS-T) ammunition and uses a depleted uranium penetrator.
This weapon system facilitates extremely precise long-range combat, allowing strikes to hit targets up to 5,000 meters away.
The Leopard 2A7V has the capacity to fire the new DM11 High Explosive Fragmentation Tracer (HE FRAG-T) tank munition, offers a customizable programmable fuse, and is designed to engage non-armored and lightly armored targets, penetrate barriers, and neutralize targets behind cover.
The Leopard 2A7V is also equipped with the new ATTICA-GL thermal imager for the gunner and the ATTICA-Z thermal imager for the commander, both manufactured by Hensoldt.
The imagers significantly increase detection, recognition, and identification range compared to their predecessors, enabling crews to identify targets beyond the main gun's effective combat range.
For better night steering, the MBT includes Hensoldt SPECTUS II or III optics in the hull "nose", featuring a thermal imaging system combined with an image intensifier.
This enhanced technology provides enhanced clarity and contrast for the driver.
In addition, a reinforced rear drive camera has been incorporated, consisting of a thermal imager.
The Leopard 2A7V is powered by a multi-fuel-capable MB 873 diesel engine.
This machine can also reduce the increase in combat weight, although it sacrifices top speed for better acceleration.
Top speed was slightly reduced to 63 kmph, and its acceleration performance has improved markedly compared to earlier heavier models, such as the Leopard 2A6M and 2A7 tanks.
The transmission has also been hardened to withstand the added weight without sacrificing life.
The Leopard 2A7V was developed and manufactured by German companies Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall.
KMW is the main manufacturer of the Leopard 2, while Rheinmetall contributes to the development and production of the weapons systems used in the MBT.
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) is a German defense company that has long been involved in the development and production of battle tanks.
They are the main manufacturer of the Leopard 2 and have supplied these tanks to various countries around the world.
Rheinmetall is a global defense company based in Germany that is also involved in the production of weapons systems for the Leopard 2.
They provide the advanced weapons systems and components used in the Leopard 2 variants, including fire control systems, cannons, and other equipment.
The collaboration between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall in the development of the Leopard 2A7V enables the combined technology and expertise of the two to create a more advanced variant that is superior in terms of protection, combat capability and applied technology.