For Ukraine, what is so special about the German Leopard 2 tanks?

In A declaration Last week Ukraine’s foreign and defense ministers said that while they welcomed Britain’s “bold and timely decision” to send a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks, they were “not good enough to achieve operational objectives. They then appealed to countries “that have Leopard 2 tanks in service” to send them to Ukraine.

For Berlin, the emphasis on tanks has become a geopolitical puzzle – and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government has so far rebuffed calls for the Leopard 2 to be exported. Although this week German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a French television interview that her government “would not stand in the way” if Poland asked to send its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Here’s what to know about the Leopard 2 and why Ukraine says it needs it.

Why does Ukraine prefer the Leopard 2?

The Leopard 2 was first introduced in 1979 and has since been upgraded several times, earning a reputation as one of the best main battle tanks in the world.

It was designed by West German arms producer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann to replace the original Leopard tank, which entered service in 1965. The Leopard 2 is more advanced than most Soviet-era tanks deployed by Russian and Ukrainian forces.

Even older versions of the tank have modern optics, including thermal imaging, which allows it to operate day and night, as well as magnification and a laser rangefinder for tracking targets. The tanks are built to move quickly, with a top speed of around 70 km/h despite their weight of 55 tons, according to the manufacturer.

The Leopard 2 also has a variety of features designed to protect the crew. Compartmentalized ammunition storage avoids the devastating “jack-in-the-box” explosions seen with Russian T-72 tanks, where ammunition is stored under the crew.

The tank is powered by a diesel engine, which is relatively easy to refuel and gives the vehicle an extended range of around 210 miles on the road. It also uses standardized NATO 120mm ammunition, which would give Ukraine access to more suppliers than its current tanks, which require 125mm.

How many Leopard 2s are there and where are they located?

Researchers estimate that there are over 2,000 Leopard 2 tanks in Europe. More than half are thought to be the old 2A4 and 2A5 variants, with more than 200 in storage in Germany itself, according to at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for German arms group Rheinmetall told local media that the company could deliver 139 Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine if needed, Reuters reportedalthough some will not arrive until the end of the year or the beginning of 2024.

Many of those already exported from Germany have been sent to European countries or NATO member states like Canada and Turkey. Other countries that have purchased Leopard 2 tanks include Singapore, Chile and Qatar.

Ukraine focused on the Leopard 2 in part because there are so many of them in Europe, where they could be transported to the battlefield with relative ease. But within the framework of agreements with the buyer countries, Germany the government must approve all transfers.

In a note released in September, the European Council on Foreign Relations called on Western nations to support a plan to send Leopard 2s to Ukraine, saying “the more tanks donated by countries, the easier it will be to share the burden of donating them” .

What about alternatives, including the US M1 Abrams?

When it comes to main battle tanks, the Leopard 2 has one main rival: the American-made M1 Abrams.

In service since 1980, the M1 Abrams has similar characteristics to the Leopard 2, but some obvious advantages. Modern versions have layers of depleted uranium armor protection which provide significant benefits to the crew inside.

In a phonecall earlier this month, Scholz suggested to President Biden that in order for Germany to release a package of Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine, Washington should send the M1 Abrams.

However, the Biden administration has argued that US-made tanks have a number of disadvantages for the terrain in Ukraine.

They use jet fuel, which is much harder to obtain than the diesel used by the Leopard 2. Although the tank once weighed 60 tons, its weight has ballooned over the years; new releases can weigh nearly 75 tons, which adds logistical difficulties. That’s a lot of weight to drive over a bridge, for example.

They also have complicated maintenance requirements, US officials told reporters, and require specialized training.