Leopard 2A7

[Herman the II]

The Bundeswehr plans to upgrade about 150 Leopard tanks to the so called "A7" standard. Upgrades include:

-all around protection against anti tank weaponry- increased armour.

-all around close range surveillance- additional cameras

-adopted weaponry for urban use- remote controlled weapon stations and different ammunition?

-advanced command and control equipment

-improved APU and climate control

Because of the mentioned upgrades the tank is likely to reach an overall weight of around 70 tons, comparable to the King Tiger of WW2.

Source is the current issue of "Strategie&Technik".

Thoughts?

[Warlock762]

I'm not very happy about this Upgrade. Instead we should give KMW and Rheinmetall the option to develop and produce a "real" Leo3.

[flanker7]

Thoughs? Great!!

[Herman the II]

I'm not very happy about this Upgrade. Instead we should give KMW and Rheinmetall the option to develop and produce a "real" Leo3.

Depends, this step is supposed to happen until 2012.
The article also mentions thoughts about a possible successor system (possible Leopard 3) in the 2020 time frame.

[tluassa]

I'm not very happy about this Upgrade. Instead we should give KMW and Rheinmetall the option to develop and produce a "real" Leo3.

Well, since the international tank market seems satisfied at the moment I think we should give it at least 5 - 10 years before there is even a need for the next step. Until than there are still a lot of Leopard 2, M1 and others for cheap money on the market ...

[ayanami_tard]

new 120mm gun?

south korean K2 programme is expected to use em

[Steak-Sauce]

Sounds nice. Perhaps the A7 will use some PSO components. Thanks for posting Herman!

[JCR]

Is that the same as the Leo 2 UrbOps standard?
AFAIK these tanks are to use the old shorter gun.
The newer one is too long for urban combat and for that ranges the additional punch is not really relevant.

Honestly, I don't see the need for a new MBT in the time being, but we shouldn't export all extant arsenalized Leo 2s so we have a good reserve for conversions and upgrades.

[Herman the II]

new 120mm gun?

south korean K2 programme is expected to use em

The A6 version already got the new L55 Rheinmetall gun, that's the version that will also be used by the K2.
So I doubt they will change much in that regard.

[Herman the II]

Is that the same as the Leo 2 UrbOps standard?
AFAIK these tanks are to use the old shorter gun.
The newer one is too long for urban combat and for that ranges the additional punch is not really relevant.

You are right, the current PSO demonstrator build by KMW uses the shorter L44 gun. I suppose the A7 version will use elements of that PSO or "UrbOps" prototype like the additional turret or sideskirt armour.

[lightfire]

The price will probably go sky-high..

[cbiwv]

Are there really any tanks better than the A6? I have my doubts.

[Warlock762]

Well, since the international tank market seems satisfied at the moment I think we should give it at least 5 - 10 years before there is even a need for the next step. Until than there are still a lot of Leopard 2, M1 and others for cheap money on the market ...

Agreed ... and just for info ( and i'm sorry, only in german )

Mit dem Leopard 2 A6 wird die Weiterentwicklung des Leopard 2 u. U. für die Bundeswehr ihren Abschluss finden. Der General der Gepanzerten Kampftruppen und Kommandeur der Panzertruppenschule, Brigadegeneral Wolf-Dieter Langheld, ließ in einem Beitrag wissen, dass es keine Weiterentwicklung des heutigen Kampfpanzers Leopard 2 A6 hin zum Leopard 3 geben wird. Vielmehr brauche man ein System, das in der Lage sei, gemeinsam mit anderen Ziele aufzuklären und entweder selbst oder im Verbund mit anderen Systemen zu bekämpfen. Es müsse die Fähigkeiten des Kampfpanzers von heute abdecken, ohne zugleich über 70 Tonnen zu wiegen. Grundsätzlich müsse das neue Gefechtssystem ähnliche Fähigkeiten haben wie heute der Leopard 2 A6, aber es müsse aus den Erfahrungen der Einsätze der vergangenen Jahre deutlich leichter werden. Auch Fragen nach dem Kaliber müssten gestellt werden. Es sei an ein Waffensystem (oder eine Familie) zu denken, das über hohe Durchsetzungsfähigkeit und einen guten Schutz verfüge und so vielseitig sei, dass es in Konflikten der Kategorien low bis high einsetzbar ist. Nach Langheld wird damit "eine durchaus revolutionäre Entwicklung eingeläutet". Und es sei Zeit, mit dem Nachdenken zu beginnen.

http://www.panzerbaer.de/types/bw_kp...ard_2_a6-a.htm

[JCR]

Seems Langeld's statement at Panzerbär is obsolete.
The Strategie und Technik article should be newer.
Especially since Langheld was General der Panzertruppen only until 2003, so this statement is made before 2003, most likely at the acceptance of the first Leo 2A6.
A lot has changed in the perception of the Panzertruppen since 2003.
Basically they went from "cold war relics" to "increasingly useful again" due to experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Kadrun]

new 120mm gun?

south korean K2 programme is expected to use em

Leo2A6 and K2 both use L55 120mm. K2 can change its main gun to 140mm with minor modification, and ETC gun is also one of considerations for PIP.