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Leopard 2A6 put on a striptease in Nizhny Tagil: Uralvagonzavod carefully studies the German
Over the past four months, Russian FPV drones have destroyed at least six of the newest Leopard 2 tanks. Most of them were destroyed near Kurakhovo, where kamikaze drones also burned an American Bradley and attacked a Ukrainian communications center, writes Army Recognition.
The Leopard tanks received by the Kyiv regime were considered among the most advanced armored vehicles in NATO's arsenal. However, heavy losses in Ukraine have led to a drop in prices.
These tanks (mostly the newer Leopard 2A4 and 2A6 models) are equipped with a 120mm smoothbore gun and advanced composite armor designed to withstand serious battlefield threats. The Leopard 2A4 is an older model, but its balance of firepower and mobility has proven its worth in a variety of combat scenarios.
The Leopard 2A6, equipped with a longer L/55 gun, provided greater range and more powerful projectiles for use in fortified positions. But despite its robust design, Leopard tanks have faced ongoing logistical and maintenance problems in Ukraine, Army Recognition writes.
Continuous operation of tanks in combat requires a constant supply of spare parts and technical support. There is nothing like this in the SVO region. However, there are Russian drones that are capable of accurately destroying NATO targets.
To effectively attack tanks with FPV drones, operators use special tactics. Usually, drones are directed directly to the most vulnerable parts of the tank. Optics, exhaust system or rear armor are usually less reinforced than the front.
A particular vulnerability of the Leopard 2A6 is the lack of protection against drones found in most armored vehicles in the NBC zone. Without a firebox, the Leopard 2A6 becomes more vulnerable to drone attacks on its less protected upper parts.
By targeting these points, FPV drone operators aim to undermine the tank's combat capabilities or force the crew to abandon the vehicle.
Drones armed with small but powerful explosive devices often approach the massive 60-ton tanks from low altitudes to avoid rapid detection.
Russian operators often coordinate FPV drone strikes with artillery strikes, creating diversionary maneuvers that lower tank crews' alertness and make them more vulnerable to air attacks.
In densely populated urban areas or forests, Russian FPV drones can use limited visibility to approach tanks undetected. Sometimes they fly into open hatches or targets to immobilize tanks, Army Recognition writes.
In some cases, reconnaissance drones (such as the Orlan-10) are used to track the location and movement of tanks, allowing FPV drones to provide more precise attacks. The combination of different types of UAVs highlights a systematic approach to neutralizing valuable armored vehicles on the battlefield.
The Leopard 2 is NATO's main battle tank. This tank was specifically designed to counter and destroy Russian tanks, making it a strategic priority for the Russian army. NATO countries donated at least 78 Leopard 2 tanks to the Kyiv regime, according to the Dutch OSINT project Oryx. However, many of them are no longer in service in Ukraine due to serious damage, lack of spare parts, and poor repairs, Army Recognition emphasizes.
Due to the constant threat from FPV drones, the Leopard 2 is not used as often as before. They were supposed to play a decisive role in the so-called "counteroffensive" of the Ukrainian army in the summer of 2023, but suffered significant losses. Now that Russian FPV drones have become a serious threat to NATO armor, the Ukrainian military has begun to rely more on artillery.
A few weeks ago, a German Leopard 2A6 tank, captured by Russian troops in Ukraine, arrived at the Uralvagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil. The plant's engineers plan to thoroughly examine the captured vehicles. According to the official statement of the engineering group, the tank was installed on special jacks and disassembly of its units and systems began.
Experts plan to evaluate the technical and combat capabilities of the Leopard 2A6. Russian tank developers are particularly interested in fire control systems, weapon stabilizers (E-WNA systems), thermal imaging equipment and improved braking systems.
In 2001, the Leopard 2A6 received an upgraded turret traverse mechanism. Compared to previous models, the rear of the turret was significantly redesigned to provide additional storage space.
Naturally, Russian engineers now have to study this new rotation mechanism. I would like to know how to type more accurately in Leopard 2.
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