Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank - Overview and Opinions



Development of the Leopard 2 main battle tank began in 1970. In those days a clash between NATO and the Warsaw Pact was possible and the German Army needed a well protected MBT, which was superior to the models introduced in the Eastern Block. The first prototypes of the Leopard 2 were completed in 1972. In 1977 Bundeswehr initially ordered 1 800 of these main battle tanks to replace the Leopard 1. First production batch of 30 tanks was completed in 1979 and the Leopard 2 was adopted by the German Army the same year. At the time of its introduction the Leopard 2 was a very advanced and successful design. By 1993 German Army operated a total of 2 155 of these MBTs. This vehicle was also exported worldwide. Export operators are Netherlands (445 tanks), Poland, Switzerland (380 tanks, known as the Pz.87), Sweden (160), Spain (650), Turkey, and some other countries. Fire control system, armament, ammunition, transmission and tracks of the Leopard 2 are similar to the US M1 Abrams main battle tank, to simplify maintenance.

This MBT has a welded hull and turret. Composite armor of the Leopard 2 tank is similar to British Chobham Armour. It offers good protection against armor-piercing rounds and ATGWs. Vehicle is fitted with NBC protection system and automatic fire suppression systems. The Leopard 2 main battle tank is armed with a fully-stabilized Rheinmetall RH-M-120 120-mm smoothbore gun. Vehicle carries 42 rounds for the main gun. 15 rounds are stored in the turret bustle, while the rest are carried in front of the hull. The turret bustle is separated from the fighting compartment and has a blow-out panels. The Leopard 2 normally uses two types of ammunition - the APFSDS-T and HEAT-MP-T rounds. The APFSDS-T round penetrates about 450 mm at 2 000 m range. It is worth mentioning that since its introduction some generations of APFSDS-T rounds were developed and used by the German Army. The HEAT-MP-T round is effective against both soft and hard targets. Secondary armament consists of two 7.62-mm machine guns. One of them is coaxial, while another is mounted on top of the roof.

The Leopard-2 has a crew of four, including commander, gunner, loader and driver. One interesting feature about this main battle tank, that it has an escape hatch in the floor behind the driver. This main battle tank has a crew of four, including commander, gunner, loader and driver.Vehicle is powered by MB-837 Ka501 turbocharged diesel engine, developing 1 500 horsepower. The Leopard 2 can be fitted with a deep wading kit. After preparation it can ford water obstacles up to 4 m deep.

Variants:

-Leopard 2A1, has improved armor protection. A number of components were improved in order to make them more reliable;
-Leopard 2A2, fitted with improved sights;
-Leopard 2A3, fitted with improved communications equipment and improved parking brake;
-Leopard 2A4, fitted with new digital fire control system and improved turret with more armor. It was the most widespread version of this tank. Its production commenced in 1985 and ceased in 1992. All the previous models were upgraded to this standard. It was produced in Switzerland under license as the Pz 87. It looks like the Leopard 2A4 saw its first combat debut in 2016 during Turkish operation in Syria. A number of these tanks Turkish were lost to anti-tank guided missiles;
-Leopard 2A5 and Leopard 2A6 are radically improved versions;
-Leopard 2A7 a proposed upgrade package for existing MBTs, which includes additional armor, additional cameras for long-range surveillance, advanced command and control equipment and some other improvements. Bundeswehr plans to upgrade about 50 - 150 Leopard tanks to the 2A7 standard.
-Leopard 2 PSO, a version optimized for urban and peacekeeping operations. It was developed as a private venture. This MBT has increased protection against IEDs and RPGs.

Taiwan scrambles jets, navy as China aircraft carrier enters Taiwan Strait



TAIPEI: Taiwan scrambled jets and navy ships on Wednesday as a group of Chinese warships led by China's sole aircraft carrier sailed north through the Taiwan Strait, the latest sign of heightened tensions between Beijing and the self-ruled Taiwan.

The Soviet-built Liaoning aircraft carrier, returning from exercises in the South China Sea, was not trespassing in Taiwan's territorial waters but entered its air defence identification zone (ADIZ) in the southwest, Taiwan's defence ministry said.



As a result Taiwan scrambled jets and navy ships to "surveil and control" the passage of the Chinese ships through the narrow body of water separating Taiwan and China.

"We have full grasp of its movements," Taiwan defence ministry spokesman Chen Chung-chi said.

Taiwanese military aircraft and ships have been deployed to follow the carrier group, which is sailing up the west side of the median line of the strait. he said.

China has said the Liaoning aircraft carrier was on drills to test weapons and equipment in the disputed South China Sea and its movements comply with international law.

The latest Chinese naval exercises have unnerved Beijing's neighbours, especially Taiwan which Beijing claims as its own, given long-running territorial disputes in the South China Sea.



China claims most of the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea, through which about US$5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

China distrusts Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and has stepped up pressure on her following a protocol-breaking, congratulatory telephone call between her and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump last month.

Beijing suspects Tsai wants to push for the island's formal independence, a red line for the mainland, which has never renounced the use of force to bring what it deems a renegade province under its control.

Tsai says she wants to maintain peace with China.

(Reporting by J.R. Wu; Editing by Michael Perry)

- Reuters

Kata dah buddy2 dgn china. So why not buy china-made jets and attack heli. If its good enough for a nuclear superpower, must be good enough for us

The Indonesian Navy inducted 3 new Fast Patrol Boats 45 meters KRI Tatihu 853, KRI Layaran 854 and KRI Madidihang 855 to its Eastern Fleet. The 3 Fast Patrol Boats were built by local shipyard PT Palindo Marine Batam.







http://photo.sindonews.com/view/21002/ksal...-cepat-di-batam

This post has been edited by azriel: Jan 11 2017, 12:16 PM

if only our shipbuilding capability and our budget are on par with Indonesia....

Why can Indon built their ship fast? Is our local shipbuilder can't built any patrol ship beside BNS?

there's at least half dozen shipbuilder in malaysia. some can build bigger patrol boats like perlih marine engineering or labuan shipyard. if we simply go to commercial grade ship, plenty can do it but navy want mil grade ship

oso, indon has plenty of islands so shipbuilding is naturally their strength. the flips oso had larger shipbuilding industry than us although they focus mostly on civilian ship like roro ferry and bulk carrier

Not gonna happen, not just because of Russia sanction but also because of the unique SU-30MKM build.

MA just reporting omong kosong again, which is his job; Gripen huruf apapun doesn't fit TUDM requirement for 2 engines instead of 1.

Because ori SU30 has better performance than whatever China can currently cook up.

Made-in-China betul2 got made in China problem when it comes to high tech stuff like jet engines

for once, just once, can we buy something without having to make it an expensive custom jigsaw puzzle mix and match frankenstein job?

Our m4A1s are pretty similar to the USMC ones, unless you count the one in /k

Most western military airplanes use Israeli electronics, so that's a non-starter.

no expensive no songlapz

Russia revives its bizarre Soviet-era 'Ekranoplan' GEV concept (Part 2)


Scale model of the A-080-752 Heavy Ekranoplan

According to state-owned news agency RIA Novosti, quoting the Chief of the Russian Navy, Russia is returning to the development and construction of Ground Effect vehicles (better known as the Ekranoplan), and they are included in the program of shipbuilding until 2050.

Russian company JSC RADAR MMS is developing a new heavyweight Ekranoplan project dubbed A-080-752 which may answer the Russian Navy future needs. The A-080-752 has been designed as a transport Ekranoplan for both civilian and military transport applications. However some can be ordered as attack Ekranoplans for military customers and be fitted with long range cruise and anti-ship missiles.

The A-080-752 is powered by two Progress D-436 three-shaft high by-pass turbofan engine developed by Ivchenko-Progress. These engines are already in use on Beriev BE-200 as well as other platforms. In using the 'ground effect' principle to glide just a few meters over the surface of a flat area (usually the sea), Ekranoplans are much faster than surface ships, yet are more fuel-efficient as well as carrying a higher number of cargo or passengers than aircraft of comparable size.

It is estimated that it would take RADAR MMS only five years to complete the project and conduct a first flight if a customer was to order this new Ekranoplan.

No, J-31 (Export name: FC-31) will using China own made WS-13E turbofan engine, last month J-31 2.0 version 2 already use this engine WS-13E for first flight. WS-13 is copy version of russia RD-33 (Mig-29 engine) but with enhancement, WS-13E is final production version and no more black smoke. design life 3000 hrs for 9 tons power after trust, news say it can burst to 9.5 tons power for emergency (during real combat) but life will reduce. AVIC already start construction of engine factory to produce WS-13E in 2019/2020

This post has been edited by waja2000: Jan 12 2017, 09:42 AM

i just read some website, said 9mm bullet use in SMG gun like PDRM MP5 and Scorpian Evo 3A1, can't use in 9mm handgun like Glock etc. is true ? it due to 9mm bullet shells is different for SMG version. and they use some world police internal report issue using MP5 9mm bullet in 9mm Glock handgun cause many problems.

Never heard anything like that. AFAIK all ammunition of a particular caliber is standardized in bullet weight, propellant load and overall dimensions. Manufacturing quirks by different companies may differentiate the performance from one batch to another, but these are not by design.

No such thing as a special 9mm parabellum round for SMGs/pistols only.

well possible bullet weight, propellant load and overall dimension maybe is same? but website said SMG design shooting range upto 100-200meter, so need harder bullet shells, well 9mm hangun design for 10-40 meter, so need more cheaper means bullet spec can be lower as long meet spec. or an possible SMG using 9mm handgun bullet but range will reduce range like to 100 meter (example) like that ?

This post has been edited by waja2000: Jan 12 2017, 10:20 AM

Look, a missile just landed on our street!

This is totally going on instagram!!

this is so wrong...

huh... our = msia / arab?

Beijing 'seeks to reshape' Asia-Pacific security order



China has put out a White Paper on its policy on security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific for the first time, in what is seen as a reflection of its growing interest in reshaping the regional security order.

At a press conference yesterday, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Liu Zhenmin made it clear that the document was about security cooperation and not security issues.

But he also said: "The current security structure in the region is not satisfactory, which has led to mistrust among the nations."

The release of the White Paper came as China's aircraft carrier Liaoning sailed into the Taiwan Strait yesterday for the first time since it was declared combat-ready in November 2016.

Included in China's vision for the region's security is the improvement of the regional security framework. The paper stated: "China promotes the building of a security framework in the Asia-Pacific region, which does not mean starting all over again, but improving and upgrading the existing mechanisms."

The future framework should be "multi-layered, comprehensive and diversified" and "based on consensus". The paper noted the diversity of the current framework, with Asean-led security cooperation mechanisms, and platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, both Chinese initiatives.



But there was no mention of the Shangri-La Dialogue defence summit, held annually in Singapore, where the Chinese often find themselves the target of criticism.

Associate Professor Li Mingjiang, an expert on Asia-Pacific security, said the White Paper showed that China has become "more serious about reforming and transforming the regional security architecture". This is as the current one, which China did not play a major role in creating, has elements not to its liking. Among these are the United States-centred security alliances and partnerships such as those between the US and Japan, South Korea, the Philippines or Thailand.



While China is a member of several Asean-related multilateral institutions such as the Asean Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit, Beijing does not play a leading or dominant role in them and thus cannot expand its influence through them.

On what China can do to reshape the regional security architecture, Prof Li said it has to begin with cooperation in non-traditional security areas such as disaster relief, anti- piracy, and search and rescue.

"It is less sensitive and many countries have the need to work with China and, increasingly, China may be the only major power to offer resources (in these areas)," he said.

Chinese international relations expert Shi Yinhong said the White Paper is in part meant to reassure neighbouring countries of China's intentions, and that it is peace- loving. But it is also to remind countries not to be too focused on their core interests to the detriment of overall regional peace and stability.

The paper, while noting that the region was, by and large, stable, said it "still faces multiple destabilising and uncertain factors".



These include the Korean peninsula nuclear issue and disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

In what is seen by experts as a reference to almost all the countries in the region, the paper said: "Small and medium-sized countries need not and should not take sides among big countries."

The paper also touched on the South China Sea issue, noting that China has "indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha (Spratly) Islands and their adjacent waters". But it also said China was committed to resolving the disputes over these islands peacefully.

SEE WORLD

This post has been edited by Fat & Fluffy: Jan 12 2017, 02:36 PM