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Thanks to the latest drone tower, the LEOPARD 1A5 tank crew is more protected an...

Updated Leopard 1A5 with an unmanned tower: experts explained if such an Armed Forces Tank (Video)

Thanks to the latest drone tower, the LEOPARD 1A5 tank crew is more protected and receives more information about the battlefield, experts explained. However, the modernization of the armored vehicle requires additional costs that may be unbearable. Ukraine has a chance to get another upgraded version of the LEOPARD 1A5 tank, equipped with an unmanned cockerill 3105. The unmanned tower was developed by a Belgian company that hopes to "sell" this idea for the use of the Armed Forces.

Experts have analyzed whether the Ukrainian military was taking advantage of this modernization. The results of the analysis of the Leopard 1A5 update were posted on the Defense24 portal. With all the benefits of installing the unmanned tower, a number of problems are caused, experts indicate. Therefore, they doubt that it will be interested in Ukraine.

The article of the Defense24 portal stated that the Belgian company John Cockerill showed an innovation at the armed exhibition - the unmanned Cockerill 3105 tower, which can be installed on the LOOPARD 1A5 tank. The designers have listed the benefits of a new improvement of the German armored vehicle: the crew protection increases, the situational awareness of the crew increases, the amplitude of the gun increases (the rise angle increases), fire power increases.

The tower is equipped with a 105 mm gun, which is able to make 12-16 shots per minute. The material from which the tower is made is aluminum. The innovation was presented in 2022, reminded the authors. Experts stressed that modernization is related to a number of problems that Ukraine can face. First, the design of the unmanned tower has a certain feature-it is higher than the height of the tank. Therefore, to install the tower, you need to add a certain ring.

The cost of the updated tower is unknown, but this additional ring rises the processing of the tank. However, it is very doubtful that Ukraine will find extra money to spend them on it, explained on Defense24. Another problem is the costs of LEOPARD spare parts 1. Experts have indicated that German armored vehicles have repeatedly been upgraded since the first variant in Germany in 1965.

Ukraine receives equipment with many different improvements - that is, must have an appropriate range of spare parts. Meanwhile, there are few spare parts, they end and their purchase also requires additional funds. Therefore, doubtful, indicate Defense24, which will be tempted on the unmanned tower - this will evoke the next cost of new spare parts. As a result, Defense24 experts summarized that the Belgian idea of ​​the unmanned tower was late in time.

"Belgian modernization is not only a missed blow, but also a delay for many years," the article said. It should be noted that the supply to Ukraine of a variety of LOOPARD tanks became known in the winter of 2023, when they created the so -called "tank coalition" during a meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine in Ramstein. Ministers of defense of a number of countries have agreed to provide the Armed Forces of Leopard 1A5 and Leopard 2A4.

There were also other types of armored vehicles: RT-91 TWARDY, M1A1 Abrams and more. Based on the statements of partners on the portal "Word and Delo", they created an appropriate infographic. On November 23, experts noted that on the battlefield in Ukraine they still have not noticed American Abrams tanks. According to experts, this happened due to a number of reasons.

Among them is the number of tanks provided by the United States, the deterioration of the weather and an attempt to save them for fighting in the spring of 2024. At the same time, although Abrams are gone, the Russian soldiers receive instructions on how to fight them - the media was told in September 2023. We remind that Ukraine is preparing to obtain F-16 fighters. In particular, the Air Force spokesman, Yuri Ignat, said the pilots are being prepared and will soon fly on these planes.