Germany has moved a step nearer to constructing a brand new important battle tank — already dubbed Leopard 3 — with a contract issued for technical research of 130mm ammunition, in addition to a powerplant, safety programs, and different gear. The ensuing programs are anticipated to seek out their approach into an interim tank that will probably be operated by the German army pending the arrival of an all-new Franco-German important battle tank. This extra superior tank could properly additionally find yourself utilizing among the identical gear now being studied.
The German Armed Forces procurement workplace, the BAAINBw, revealed particulars of the technical research on TED, the European on-line procurement platform. The bulletins have been first reported within the media by the German protection and safety web site hartpunkt. These reveal that technical research have been commissioned to cowl three completely different areas: firepower, mobility, and safety.
All of those new applied sciences are meant to be appropriate with the present Leopard 2 important battle tank. Nonetheless, ought to they ultimately be built-in right into a single platform, the outcome will probably be a considerably completely different tank. It will possible be designated Leopard 3 — though it has additionally been described because the Leopard 2 AX or “the bridge answer.”
The examine for 130mm ammunition will probably be performed by Rheinmetall. This displays a broader curiosity in transferring to increased-caliber tank armament and the gun itself is one thing that Rheinmetall has been engaged on for a while now.
A measurement comparability of Rheinmetall’s unique 120mm gun, its prolonged L55 variant, and an earlier, proposed 140mm kind. The brand new 130mm design is shorter than the 120mm L55. Rheinmetall
This work is damaged down into three elements, for 3 completely different ammunition sorts: the DM13 rounds that will probably be used as qualification ammunition for trials; DM11 multifunctional high-explosive ammunition; and DM23 kinetic-energy anti-armor ammunition.
It was beforehand recognized {that a} large-caliber 130mm important gun was being deliberate for the Essential Floor Fight System (MGCS) a Franco-German venture that seeks to subject a complicated new important battle tank in addition to a ‘system of programs’ of different crewed and uncrewed automobiles. The tank part is anticipated to finally change Germany’s current Leopard 2s, in addition to France’s Leclercs.
Rheinmetall’s 130mm gun has additionally been round for a while.
The smoothbore gun, with 52 caliber lengths, was first revealed in prototype type in 2016. On the time, Rheinmetall stated that the brand new gun would supply a 50 % enhance in kinetic vitality in contrast with the 120mm gun used on the Leopard 2.
Whereas that is important, by way of penetration energy, the bigger gun can be notably heavier and bulkier than the 120mm weapon. When it was unveiled, Rheinmetall stated the 130mm gun weighed greater than 7,700 kilos, in contrast with round 6,600 kilos for the 120mm gun. On the identical time, the bigger projectiles fired — every of which weighs greater than 66 kilos and is round 4.2 ft lengthy — require an computerized loader inside a turret of revised design.
Rheinmetall’s 130mm tank gun. Observe the distinction within the measurement of the ammunition, at left, in comparison with a typical 120mm spherical. Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall has already carried out firing demonstrations with the 130mm gun, in addition to in depth simulations and research.
In the meantime, Liebherr will probably be answerable for the examine for a brand new engine, referred to as OLYMP. Just like the 130mm important gun, this will probably be tailor-made for the ‘interim’ Leopard 3, nevertheless it may doubtlessly produce other functions too.
Prior to now, Liebherr has developed and produced engines for the Marder 1 infantry preventing automobile in addition to its successor, the Lynx KF41.
The BAAINBw description specifies a whole engine block, comprising the combustion engine itself in addition to steering, guide gearbox, cooling system, combustion air filtration, and exhaust system. Additionally required are engine mounts to connect the facility pack to the chassis, facet gears, and connections to the management system and gas provide. The examine requires the usage of as many current elements from the Leopard 2 as attainable.
Hensoldt and KNDS Deutschland are the 2 corporations commissioned to check the elevated stage of safety for the Leopard 3.
This requires the event of a “considerably extra combat-capable variant of the MUSS,” a reference to Hensoldt’s current Multifunctional Self-Safety System. This may occasionally lead to an additional enhancement of the MUSS 2.0 the corporate introduced final yr, to be used on the Puma infantry preventing automobile and different platforms.
The MUSS 2.0 put in on a Puma infantry preventing automobile. Hensoldt
The present MUSS 2.0 is a lighter-weight and lower-profile system than the unique MUSS. It basically consists of 4 passive sensors situated across the automobile. Every of those sensors mixed a missile and laser warning sensor, in addition to a laser-based infrared jammer and an infrared countermeasures dispenser. The system is designed to defend in opposition to anti-tank guided missiles, however it might probably additionally detect tracer rounds, muzzle flashes, projectile fireplace, and low-power lasers. The MUSS 2.0 is ready to detect completely different threats concurrently, prioritize them, after which counter them, in semi- or absolutely autonomous modes. The menace database can be commonly up to date, to cope with new and rising threats.
Lastly, two additional technical research have been awarded to Hensoldt and to KNDS Germany, calling for work in a subject adjustment system. That is required to compensate for the consequences of barrel bend, a phenomenon that’s attributable to modifications in temperature and which might have an effect on the accuracy of the principle gun. Within the Leopard 2, a guide system is used for subject adjustment, which is the duty of the gunner. The BAAINBw needs a brand new system to be absolutely automated in order that common guide adjustment is not mandatory.
The interim important battle tank, if improvement continues, will present the German Armed Forces with a tank that can serve a minimum of till the introduction of an all-new preventing automobile, being developed below the MGCS venture.
The report from hartpunkt, which cites unnamed protection insiders, means that the interim Leopard 3 (offered it receives this designation) will probably be “tailored to the present menace stage by way of efficiency and can have extra capabilities in comparison with the Leopard 2A8.” The latter is presently probably the most superior manufacturing model of the Leopard 2. The report provides that the interim tank ought to begin to enter service within the 2030s — if the German authorities offers it the go-ahead. The tank ought to then serve for round 25 years.
A Leopard 2A8 tank. KNDS
At this stage, the ultimate specs of the Leopard 3 are nonetheless to be decided, and they’ll possible be refined after these three technical research are accomplished. The German Armed Forces procurement workplace expects this work to be completed by the top of 2026.
It’s unclear the place the brand new technical research will go away the Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0 model of the Leopard 2, which was rolled out by Franco-German protection conglomerate KNDS final summer season, as you possibly can examine right here.
This new model of the Leopard 2 incorporates a utterly uncrewed turret that may be armed with an excellent bigger 140mm important gun. The tank additionally incorporates a built-in anti-tank guided missile launcher and a distant weapon station armed with a 30mm cannon optimized for partaking drones, a menace that has now absolutely emerged due to the warfare in Ukraine.
The Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0. The pop-up missile launcher is seen on prime of the turret. KNDS
KNDS needs to supply the Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0 on the market but additionally expects it to be a key stepping stone to the next-generation MGCS.
Final yr, KNDS introduced it will set up a brand new joint firm with Germany’s Rheinmetall and Thales in France particularly to work on MGCS.
As for Rheinmetall, this firm additionally unveiled its personal next-generation tank, the KF51 Panther, again in 2022. The KF51 additionally has a 130mm important gun — as specified for the brand new interim tank — in a extra conventional crewed turret. That turret additionally incorporates a built-in launcher for missiles or drones and the choice to put in a distant weapon station on prime. You may learn extra in regards to the Panther’s design and capabilities right here.
An artist’s idea of the KF51 Panther. Rheinmetall
It had beforehand appeared possible that the Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0 would discover itself in direct competitors with the KF51 and, whereas which may be the case for gross sales exterior Germany, the newest technical research counsel that the BAAINBw is eyeing a unique answer. Whereas this will probably be broadly based mostly on the Leopard 2, it will likely be a extra bold venture than the Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0, which doesn’t — so far as is thought — embody a brand new powerplant.
Regardless, it’s notable that Germany is as soon as once more very energetic in tank improvement, one thing that displays wider developments.
After years throughout which many tank operators both decreased their fleets or eliminated them altogether, armored warfare is now experiencing one thing of a renaissance, spurred, in no small half, by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Whereas France and Germany stay dedicated to the MGCS, the German Armed Forces clearly see a requirement for a important battle tank that may be launched to service earlier than this next-generation preventing automobile turns into out there. Within the meantime, these German research for an interim important battle tank — no matter it is perhaps known as — appear like they may additionally present a pointer to what the long run MGCS tank may appear like.
Contact the writer: thomas@thewarzone.com
