Czech Republic invests in advanced leopard 2A8 tank fleet
At the Czech defence trade fair IDET, a demonstrator of the Leopard 2A8 tank was displayed, poised to become the backbone of European armoured forces for the next several decades. Here’s what we know about it.
The largest and heaviest piece of equipment at the IDET fair is the Leopard 2A7, modified with elements that will be implemented in serial Leopard 2A8s. Notably, this model consistently bypasses Polish MSPO trade fairs.
This is understandable, as Poland has opted, in addition to its older Leopard 2s, primarily for a mix of tanks from the M1 Abrams family and K2, as replacements for its fleet of post-Soviet T-72 family machines. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic has decided to acquire 77 Leopard 2A8 tanks and has negotiated significant contributions from the Czech industry in their production.
The pinnacle of German armoured engineering
The Leopard 2A8 tank epitomizes the height of European defence industry achievements, distinguished by its integration with the advanced Israeli Trophy active protection system. This system, also used in American M1A2 SEP V2/3 Abrams tanks, enables the neutralization of incoming anti-tank missiles or drones equipped with shaped charge warheads.
The Trophy system, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, uses radars mounted on the tank's turret to detect threats. These radars provide data, such as the speed and distance of incoming objects, necessary to determine which countermeasure launchers to activate. The launchers contain projectiles with explosively formed penetrators that, upon explosion, destroy the incoming object.
Integration with the Trophy system is crucial because tanks are best armoured at the front, while their sides, rear, and top are much less resistant. Adversaries, as seen in numerous recordings from Ukraine or the Gaza Strip, often target these weaker areas using handheld anti-tank systems and drones. Under normal conditions, this tactic is effective, but not against tanks equipped with Trophy.
Additionally, the Leopard 2A8 tank has been outfitted with new optoelectronics, modern communication systems, and reinforced turret roofs and hull sides, enhancing protection against cluster munitions.
These modifications have increased the tank's mass to nearly 77 tonnes, necessitating a boost in engine power from 1500 horsepower to 1600 horsepower to maintain the desired level of mobility in the field. Thanks to this, the Leopard 2 will remain one of the finest machines in the world for decades to come.
