The German-made Leopard 2 main battle tank was not the miracle weapon Ukraine needed to turn the tide in its war with Russia. But every tank that Kyiv receives could help its forces hold their ground this year. 

Additional Leopard 2A4 MBTs will be coming from Spain, but it could be months before the vehicles arrive.

Madrid announced earlier this month that it will send Kyiv 19 of the MBTs by September. The extended timeline is necessary, as the tanks must first undergo a thorough overhaul, with any defective parts replaced. Maintainers must then reassemble all of the systems to ensure full operation and effectiveness. 

This will be the second batch of Leopard 2s sent from Spain to Ukraine, following an initial transfer of six tanks in 2023, The Defense Post reported.

According to David Axe, Germany and the Netherlands are also preparing an additional 14 Leopard 2A4s.

Once all of those pledged tanks arrive, Ukraine will have received 74 of the 55-ton Leopard 2A4s. Forty already entered service with the Ukrainian Army's 33rd Mechanized Brigade and have been deployed in Southern Ukraine for nearly a year. Open-source intelligence website Oryx reports the brigade has lost at least eight of the tanks, while another nine have been damaged or abandoned, with some recovered and repaired.

Delays in sending the Leopard 2A4 variants to Ukraine are due to a shortage of spare parts. The platform has been upgraded and improved over the years, and parts and components for newer variants are often incompatible with older models.

The Leopard 2 in the Crosshairs

The German-made Leopard 2 remains one of the most well-reputed MBTs in service today, although it wasn't really proven in combat until the war in Afghanistan – decades after it first entered service. 

Developed in the 1970s to replace the older Leopard 1, the Leopard 2 was adopted by the West German Bundeswehr in 1979 and has been exported to nations around the world.

The Leopard 2 has an average operational range of 170 miles (280 kilometers) and a maximum speed of 70 miles per hour. Its main armament is a Rheinmetall 120mm smoothbore gun, supplemented by two machine guns capable of firing 4,750 rounds.

The 2A4 is the most widespread version of the Leopard 2 family. It included substantial changes, including an automated fire and explosion suppression system, an all-digital fire control system able to handle new ammunition types, and an improved turret with flat titanium/tungsten armor. It was produced in eight batches from 1985 to 1992. 

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].