Russian capture raises stakes: Sweden's top tank in peril
A Stridsvagn 122 has fallen into Russian hands. It is the best-armoured tank that the Western allies have sent to the front to support Kyiv. The opportunity to inspect and analyse it might provide the Russians with significant information.
Defence analyst Jarosław Wolski believes that capturing the Stridsvagn 122 is a much more valuable prize for the Russians than, for example, previously captured Abrams M1A1 tanks. This is primarily due to the armour of the Stridsvagn 122. In this regard, it is the best Ukrainian tank, surpassing both the American M1A1 and the German Leopard 1A5 and 2A4, as well as the older Soviet-era tanks that the Ukrainians had in storage before the war.
Stridsvagn 122 in Russian hands
"It is in this vehicle, not in the captured M1A1s, that the Russians will see what good special armour in a tank looks like. Unfortunately, it is a valuable prize for them," wrote Jarosław Wolski on his profile on the X service.
The Stridsvagn 122 is a Swedish tank that was not built from scratch. It is a deep modernisation of the German Leopard 2A5, which it noticeably surpasses. The Swedes made several significant changes involving key structural elements in their design. Increased durability is primarily due to a reinforced roof and sides of the hull. Additionally, the Stridsvagn 122 is equipped with more durable fuel tanks.
The armoured gold of the Ukrainians
"The Strv122 was top-tier armour in Europe until the Leopard 2A7/A8," added Jarosław Wolski.
The armament of the Stridsvagn 122 includes a smoothbore L/44 gun with a calibre of 120 mm and auxiliary machine guns with a calibre of 7.62 mm. The tank is powered by an engine with a power of up to 1,500 horsepower, which ensures decent mobility for the crew despite its large mass (approximately 60 tonnes). The Swedish tank also features an advanced fire control system and a Tank Command and Control System (TCCS).
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Very favourable opinions about the Swedish tanks are expressed not only by experts but also by Ukrainian soldiers, who consider the Stridsvagn 122 to be among the best tanks for combatting the Russian army.
