Finnish Leopard 2R mine breaching vehicle. (Finnish army photo)
On February 23, Finland announced that it will supply Kiev forces with three heavy mine breaching vehicles based on the German-made Leopard 2 main battle tank as a part of a new $169 million aid package for Ukraine.
Finland’s defense ministry said in a statement that the vehicles are equipped for demining, and that the aid package includes training for their use and maintenance.
The heavy mine breaching vehicle, known as the Leopard 2R, was developed by Finland’s Patria on the basis of the Leopard 2A4. Ten such vehicles were delivered to the Finnish Army. The vehicles are equipped with a mine plough or a dozer blade, and an automated marking system.
In January, the German government announced it would make 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks available for Kiev focus and would give authorisation to European partners to re export their tanks to Ukraine. The decision was encouraged by a British move to supply Ukraine with 14 Challenger 2 tanks, and another by the United States to provide 31 M1A2 Abrams tanks.
Following the German decision, Kiev forces were promised a total of 36 Leopard 2A4 tanks: 14 from Poland, four from Canada, Eight from Norway and ten from Spain. In addition, Portugal said that it would provide four more Leopard 2A6 tanks.
The Leopard 2 is now being promoted by the mainstream media as some “Wunderwaffe” that will shift the balance of power in Ukraine’s favor. Nevertheless, the tank’s design came under much criticism in 2016, when at least eight Leopard 2A4s of the Turkish military were destroyed by ISIS terrorists in the northern region of Syria with Soviet-made anti-tank guided missiles.
The Leopard 2A4 is armed with the Rh-120 L/44 120 mm gun, while the newer 2A6 is armed with the more lethal Rh-120 L/55 gun of the same caliber. The 2A6 is also equipped with improved armor. Bothe versions are powered by MTU MB 873 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V12 twin-turbo diesel engine with 1,479 hp and can reach a top speed of up to 70 kilometers per hour.
Ukraine’s Western allies hope that their tanks will help Kiev forces launch a large-scale offensive against the Russian military next Spring.
