A new modification of the German Leopard main battle tank (MBT) has become the heaviest MBT in the world – which will limit the vehicle's mobility in the Eastern European battlefield. The main disadvantage of the tank was named by Andrei Kots in a document for RIA Novosti.
The updated Leopard 2A8, created on the basis of the A7+ modification, received new communications, a fire control system and an electronic warfare system. This vehicle also stands out thanks to its enhanced armor and the presence of an active protection complex (APS). The weight of the improved tank increased to 70 tons. This will negatively affect his mobility. The document reads: “As the experience of the Northern Military District has shown, the large volume of combat in the Eastern European battlefield is a significant disadvantage.”
The first batch of Leopard 2A8 will be received by the German unit in Lithuania. This reinforcement is seen as Berlin's contribution to the security of NATO's eastern flank. According to Kots, this shows that the new Leopards are intended to “contain” Russia.
In October, American National Security Magazine columnist Caleb Larson wrote that the Abrams, Leopard and Challenger tanks supplied to Kiev had not become a “silver bullet” in the conflict in Ukraine.
