Germany will improve the most modern version of the Grand Leopard 2 with an important innovation: an “invisible shield”

While some question whether tanks are still relevant in modern warfare, some of the planet’s major military powers are investing considerable sums of money in them. Update this type of armored vehicles,

We recently talked about the UK’s efforts to convert a hundred Challenger 2 tanks into upgraded Challenger 3 tanks, now it is the turn of Germany, which is ready to upgrade the latest version of the famous Leopard 2.

Leopard 2 and its new missile defense system

However Leopard 2 tanks finally appeared on the scene 1970sThere have been many improvements to this model over the years. For this reason today it is known as one of the most modern armored vehicles.

Germany’s armed forces (Bundeswehr) are ready to take the A7A1 variant to the next level. The first phase plans to upgrade at least 17 units with “invisible shields” that will allow them to protect themselves from missile attacks.

This is the Trophy system manufactured by the Israeli company Rafael. Each mobile trophy unit has four radar sensors and two launch units. The system, in turn, is controlled by a computer that provides responses in milliseconds.

When Leopard 2 has this system, it will be able to identify threats from several kilometers away. The tank with the Trophy system will analyze the trajectory of the guided missile. If it determines that it is going to strike, it will choose to neutralize it.

i.e. trophy launch units will be activated intercept incoming missileFor its part, the tank’s armor will continue to be important for short-range threats, such as shots by ground forces with ammunition of a certain caliber.

Although the Trophy is already used in various vehicles of the Israeli Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr had to undertake a special development process to adapt it to the Leopard 2, which involved redesigning the tank’s turret.

The first Leopard 2 with the Trophy system is expected to be put into service as soon as 2025Units will be renamed when they are updated with the active defense system. They will go from the Leopard A7A1 to the Leopard 2 A8.

Images | Bundeswehr Featured image background created with Adobe Firefly

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