According to information published by the Spanish Newspaper website "El Pais" on February 1, 2023, Spain plans to supply four to six Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tanks to Ukraine coming from the military inventory of the Spanish armed forces.
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Spanish army Leopard 2A4 MBT Main Battle Tanks. (Picture source Army Recognition)
According to information, currently, the Spanish armed forces have a total of 327 Main Battle Tanks including 108 Leopard 2A4 and 219 Leopard 2E, which is the Spanish version of the German Leopard 2A6.
Citing an unidentified Spanish government source, for a decade, 53 Leopard 2A4 MBTS are stored at the Logistics Support Group Number 41 in Zaragoza. These tanks must be overhauled before being sent to Ukraine.
Spain will be also in charge to train the Ukrainian crews to operate the Leopard 2A4 tanks at the San Gregorio National Training Center (CNAD), on the outskirts of Zaragoza in northern Spain. This military training center is equipped with Leopard tank simulators which are used to train drivers and gunners.
On January 27, 2023, the Army Recognition editorial team reported that Six European countries including Finland, Germany, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Spain are ready to provide Ukraine with Leopard 2 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) coming from their military inventories.
On February 3, 2023, it was announced that the German government also approved the delivery of Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine. Citing information published by "The Washington Post", two German companies including Rheinmetall and FFG could deliver Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine. Germany has already approved the delivery of 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks as well as spare parts and 120mm ammunition.
The Leopard 2A4 is a main battle tank produced by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann of Germany. It was first introduced in 1979 and continues to be in service with several countries all over the world. The tank is known for its high mobility, firepower, and protection, making it one of the most capable tanks in the world.
The Leopard 2A4 is armed with a 120mm smoothbore cannon that is capable of firing a variety of munitions, including Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) rounds and High-Explosive (HE) rounds. The effective firing range of the Leopard 2A4's 120mm cannon is typically around 2,000 meters, although the maximum range is dependent on the specific type of ammunition being used and can be as much as 4,000 meters.
The hull of the Leopard 2A4 has spaced multilayer armor and is divided into three compartments: driver at the front, fighting in the center, and power pack at the rear. The front of the turret is protected by a 660mm thick special armor block while the sides are protected by 310 mm thick armor.
The Leopard 2A4 has excellent mobility. The tank is motorized with a powerful Diesel engine MTU MB 873 Ka-501 developing 1,500 hp that allows it to reach speeds of up to 72 km/h on roads and about 45 km/h in all-terrain conditions. The cruising range of the Leopard 2A4 is approximately 550 km on roads with its full fuel tank. It has a low ground pressure due to its wide tracks, which provides good cross-country mobility and makes it well-suited for operation in various types of terrain. Additionally, the Leopard 2A4 is equipped with advanced suspension and hydraulic systems that help to improve its off-road capabilities.
