Aerial close call: Drone narrowly misses Ukrainian Leopard tank
A recording from a Ukrainian Leopard 2A4 tank was published on social media. The tank was attacked by a Russian drone, which, however, "missed by a whisker."
The war in Ukraine is often referred to as the "drone war" because various types of unmanned aerial vehicles are utilised extensively by both sides. Drone footage is frequently published, showing the targeting and flight path towards a target or videos where one can observe the effects of precise hits. This time, a much rarer video has surfaced online, providing a look at a drone attack from an alternative perspective.
Russian drone attack on Leopard 2A4 tank
As observed, the Russian drone did not destroy the Ukrainian equipment this time. It struck just a few centimetres in front of the hull of the Leopard 2A4 tank, whose crew was able to continue driving.
Russians, like Ukrainians, often use FPV (first person view) drones. These small unmanned aerial vehicles with built-in cameras provide live views in real-time until the moment of impact. Generally, these are simple commercial drones modified for warfare purposes by adding explosive charges. Such simple, improvised solutions prove effective not only against the oldest, Soviet-era tanks but even against newer and better-armoured designs. Drones pose a threat to the Abrams used by Ukrainians or Russian T-90 tanks.
More advanced drones used by the Russians to destroy Ukrainian military equipment include Lancet drones.
German tanks are numerous in Ukraine
Among the Western tanks supplied to Ukraine as support from the West, the most numerous group consists of German Leopards. Various variants are reaching the frontline.
The Leopard 2A4 is a tank developed in the 1980s. It is powered by an engine with a power output of 1500 horsepower, enabling the crew to reach speeds of up to about 72 km/h. According to Ukrainian soldiers, the Leopard 2A4 performs well not only on roads but also provides efficient movement in more challenging terrain and mud.
Its main armament is the Rheinmetall L/44 120 mm smoothbore gun, and additional armament includes two 7.62 mm machine guns and a smoke grenade launcher. The Leopard 2A4 is equipped with the EMES 15 fire control system with thermal imaging, which, compared to Soviet-era tanks lacking this feature, provides an advantage in situational awareness on the battlefield.
