What is the Leopard 2 battle tank?

July 14, 2023

Italy is planning to buy German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks to boost its ground forces in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

About Leopard 2 battle tank:

  • It is a German made main battle tank.
  • Manufacturer: Developed by German weapons manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW).
  • Leopard was first produced in the late 1990s for the West German army in response to Soviet threats during the Cold War.
  • The Leopard 2 tanks are mainly used by the German military. More than a dozen countries in Europe as well as other countries like Canada are also using these tanks.
  • Features:
    • It has a crew of four and a range of about 500 kilometres (310 miles).
    • Weight: 55 tonnes
    • Top speed: 68 km/h (42mph).
    • Its main weapon is a 120mm smooth bore gun, and it has a fully-digital fire-control system.
    • It is also armed with two coaxial light machine guns.
    • They also provide “all-round protection” for troops from threats such as mines, anti-tank fire, and improvised explosive devices