Spain becomes top supplier of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine
As reported by the Infodefensa portal, preparations are underway in Spain to send additional Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine. The tanks will be transported via Poland, but another important point stands out. It turns out that Spain, not typically viewed as a tank powerhouse, has become the country providing Ukraine with the most Leopard 2A4 tanks.
The Spanish Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, confirmed that "the tasks related to finalising this transport are practically completed, and the tanks will soon head to Poland, where the delivery of materials for Ukrainian forces is coordinated."
More Spanish Leopard 2A4 tanks for Ukraine
This refers to the latest units from a batch of 19 Leopard 2A4 tanks that the Spanish authorities promised Ukraine at the beginning of this year. However, these are not the only such machines from Spain that have been overhauled and refurbished for Ukraine. In 2023, Madrid sent 10 Leopard 2A4 tanks to Kyiv.
The Defence Express portal, which specialises in military topics and the war in Ukraine, noted that 29 Leopard 2A4s place Spain at the top of the donor list for this type of tank. It surpasses not only Poland (which delivered 14 Leopard 2A4s) but also Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany, the country where these tanks originally came from. Although Spain does not have a vast arms industry, Madrid managed to organise a stable renovation process for the Leopard 2A4s for Ukraine at its Santa Bárbara Sistemas plants.
Leopard 2A4 in Ukraine: performing well
Among Western tanks in Ukraine, the Leopard 1A5 is the most numerous. However, the newer Leopard 2A4 not only offers greater durability but, most significantly, much better offensive capabilities, as Ukrainian soldiers have repeatedly pointed out. It is armed with a Rheinmetall L/44 smoothbore gun with a 120 mm calibre and also features a relatively advanced EMES 15 fire control system with thermal imaging.
The Leopard 2A4's combat weight exceeds 55 tonnes. It is a tank about 10 metres long and more than 3 metres wide. Built-in fuel tanks with a total capacity of approximately 1,440 litres allow the crew to travel around 550 kilometres without refuelling. An engine with 1,500 horsepower provides propulsion, enabling the Leopard 2A4 to reach speeds of up to 70 km/h on paved roads.
Of course, this tank's durability, though much better than that of older Soviet-era tanks, cannot be compared to even newer models. Therefore, Ukrainians often opt for additional modifications, such as installing reactive armour blocks like Contact-1.
