The Russia-Ukraine conflict has lasted for 1,139 days. The Russian Defense Ministry's Fedorenko 38th Armored Tank Technical Science Academy recently released a test report on a German Leopard 2A6 main battle tank captured in 2024. The report provides a detailed analysis of the Leopard 2A6's performance, pointing out that some of its indicators deviate from publicly available data, sparking discussions about Western tank performance propaganda.
According to the report, this Leopard 2A6 was likely captured by the Russian 15th Motorized Infantry Brigade during the Avdiivka campaign early last year due to transmission system failure. The Russian recovery vehicle towed it back while resolving issues like broken steel cables. The tank was then sent to Uralvagonzavod and Kubinka for research and later displayed at the "Patriot Park" in Moscow, showing the importance attached by the Russian side. However, the Russian side referred to it as a "Leopard 2A5," possibly due to a nameplate error or recording mistake, which does not match its external features (L55 long-barrel cannon), causing controversy.
The report focuses on the fire control and power systems of the Leopard 2A6. In terms of fire control, the Leopard 2A6 optical aiming channel has a thermal imaging night observation distance of approximately 3,000 meters and requires a 15-minute liquid nitrogen cooling startup. The Russian side considers this performance average, comparable to early third-generation tanks. It is worth noting that some Leopard 2A6 have been upgraded to the more advanced ATTICA thermal imaging system, reducing cooling time. However, the version received by Ukraine may not have been upgraded. Therefore, whether Russia has the right to mock German tanks still warrants consideration.
In terms of power, the Leopard 2A6 is equipped with the MTU-MB873Ka501 engine, with a nominal output of 1,500 horsepower. The Russian tests showed that when the environmental temperature exceeds 35°C, the power is limited to 900 horsepower, affecting mobility. This design may be due to Germany's mild climate and insufficient consideration of high-temperature environments. However, it should be noted that the Leopard 2 series performs excellently in various terrains and climates, maintaining competitive overall performance. Although the Russian report provides valuable data on the Leopard 2A6, its conclusions are somewhat biased, especially overly confident about the T-90M. The shortcomings in the Leopard 2A6's fire control and power systems are indeed present, but its modular design, firing accuracy, and battlefield adaptability remain advantages.
However, the exaggerated promotion of Western weapons is not an isolated case. For instance, the J-20 fighter jet initially fell victim to false information about the F-22's lift coefficient, eventually achieving the highest upgrade coefficient among current fighters. The PL-15 air-to-air missile also adopted dual-pulse engine technology after believing American claims, establishing China's leading position in air-to-air missile technology.
This "tank dissection" incident not only reveals the limitations of the Leopard 2A6 but can also be seen as a public relations campaign by Russian defense industries. Regardless, the Leopard 2A6 has its advanced aspects, but it is also an older model. Its outdated fire control system and partially overstated power system are facts. That said, the Leopard 2 became the mainstream tank for European countries due to its overall advanced system, which deserves recognition.
The test results of the Leopard 2A6 have drawn attention to the performance of China's Type 99 main battle tank. Perhaps Chinese designers were once misled into making their weapon systems stronger. The Type 99A adopts an optimized power system with stable power output, adapting to extreme conditions such as high temperatures. Its fire control system integrates advanced thermal imaging and automatic tracking technologies, performing excellently in response speed and precision. In terms of protection design, the Type 99A avoids the ammunition rack layout defect of the Leopard 2A6, providing more balanced overall protection. We can confidently say that the comprehensive technical level of China's main battle tanks does not fall short of any country.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7496802851293889078/
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