KNDS, the Franco-German defense joint venture, has unveiled the second prototype of its Leopard 2A RC 3.0 main battle tank. The Leopard 2A RC 3.0 is equipped with an unmanned turret, and the main gun remains a L55 120mm smoothbore cannon; in the future, it may also be upgraded to a 130mm or even 140mm smoothbore cannon. Due to the unmanned turret, the main gun is equipped with an automatic loader, achieving a rate of fire of 18 rounds per minute. This tank can also be equipped with a remote-controlled weapon station for the "Sting" long-range anti-tank missile and a 30mm machine gun. In terms of protection, in addition to composite armor on the turret and hull, it also has explosive reactive armor and the "Trophy" active protection system.
The crew consists of three members (commander, driver, and gunner), all located inside the hull. The Leopard 2A RC 3.0 main battle tank weighs less than 60 tons, equipped with a 1,500 horsepower turbocharged diesel engine, with a maximum speed of 65 km/h and a maximum road range of 460 km.
The first prototype of the Leopard 2A RC 3.0 was mainly used to test the concept of an unmanned turret, internal workstation configuration, bulletproof scheme, and integration of the automatic loader. The second prototype is used to test the drone control system, multi-layered protection, and improved crew ergonomics design.
Western media believe that the Leopard 2A RC 3.0 is on par with fourth-generation main battle tanks such as the American Abrams X and the Russian T-14 Armata. The difference is that the Leopard 2A RC 3.0 places more emphasis on modularity and the ability to install various caliber tank guns. Compared to the American Abrams X, the Leopard 2A RC 3.0 tank has a lighter combat weight and a more flexible main gun design. It is said that the configuration of the Leopard 2A RC 3.0 tank has been improved based on the practical combat experience of the Leopard 2 tank in Ukraine. "The Leopard 2A RC 3.0 can adapt to new threats, not only a technical successor of the Leopard 2, but also a model of the next generation main battle tank of NATO."
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840223500463148/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.