Spain to bolster Ukraine's defense with 20 Leopard 2A4 tanks from reserves

Ukrainian armoured units could soon be reinforced with additional Leopard 2A4 tanks. According to Militarny, Spain is preparing to transfer 20 vehicles from its reserves. However, they must undergo appropriate repairs before they can be deployed. Once delivered, Ukrainians will have about 30 Spanish Leopard 2A4 tanks. Let's explore the capabilities of these tanks.

As reported by the Ukrainian service Militarny, citing the publication Info Defensa, Spain will send another 20 Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine. Info Defensa approved this delivery by the Interministerial Board for Trade and Control of Defense Materials and Dual-Use Technologies (Jimddu). These tanks, currently stored at the Casetas Logistics Center in Zaragoza, will be repaired at the Santa Bárbara Sistemas company before being sent to Ukraine. The timeline for this process has not been disclosed.

Forbes recalls that, as of 2022, the Spanish army was listed as having 327 tanks. This number included 108 Leopard 2A4s, acquired from German surplus in 1998, and 219 Leopard 2Es, produced under license by the Spanish company Santa Barbara Sistemas since 2002. The Leopard 2A4 tanks, no longer in active service, were stored at the facilities in Casetas.

If these deliveries go ahead, Ukraine will have 30 Leopard 2A4 tanks from Spain, bringing the total to 74 such tanks from Western allies. Forbes, however, points out that, according to experts of so-called white intelligence running the Oryx blog, the 33rd Mechanized Brigade, which had 40 Leopards assigned, lost at least 8 of these tanks, and another 10 were damaged and at least temporarily out of action.

Leopard tanks in the 2A4 variant were produced at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s. This model is considered the culmination of the Cold War-era tank development. Its manufacturer, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, leveraged the experiences gained from producing other tanks and armoured vehicles. The Leopard 2A4 was so well-regarded that many users later opted for its modernization to extend its service life and enhance its functionality. Additionally, most older Leopard models were upgraded to this standard.

What sets the Leopard 2A4 tanks apart from previous versions is, most notably, their digital fire control system. This system allows for the use and operation of new types of ammunition. Another significant upgrade was the application of improved armour integrating layers of titanium and tungsten. A 1500-horsepower, 47-litre, 12-cylinder diesel engine powers the tank. Its main armament is a 120-mm smoothbore Rheinmetall Rh-120 cannon.