Leopard tanks spotted in Spain: Potential shipment to Ukraine
The Ukrainian service Militarny reports that a batch of Leopard 2A4 tanks ready for loading onto a ship was spotted at the port in Bilbao, Spain. According to tank blogger and researcher Andriy Tarasenko, the vehicles may be being prepared for transport to Ukraine. The Leopard 2A4 is a model widely used by Ukrainian soldiers, who admire it.
A photo showing the batch of Leopard 2A4 tanks at the port in Bilbao was published by the Bizkaia Civil Guard on the social platform X. It shows at least a few tanks, which, according to blogger and tank researcher Andriy Tarasenko, could be heading to Ukraine. However, Militarny notes no official announcements from the Spanish government or the Ministry of Defence.
The mysterious batch of Leopards
Although Spain is one of the countries that has previously transferred such tanks to Kyiv, other scenarios related to the vehicles' destination cannot be ruled out. The Defence Express service even pointed out that Madrid ranks high regarding the number of Leopard 2A4s transferred. Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland have also donated these tanks.
The Leopard 2A4 is a third-generation main battle tank developed to replace the Leopard 1. It was produced from 1985 to 1992, during which time approximately 700 units were built. The tank is nearly 33 feet long and weighs 60 tons. In comparison, T-72M tanks, also used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, weigh 45 tons, and Abrams M1A1 tanks weigh 73 tons.
The tank is powered by a 12-cylinder MTU MB 873 Ka-501 diesel engine with a power of 1500 hp, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of up to 45 mph on the road and 35 mph off-road. Its operational range is about 340 miles on the road. The Leopard 2A4 is armed with a Rheinmetall L/44 smoothbore gun of 120 mm calibre, a co-axial MG3A1 machine gun of 7.62 mm calibre, and an additional MG3A1 machine gun of 7.62 mm calibre.
Protection also includes 4x4 76 mm smoke grenade launchers and the fairly advanced EMES 15 fire control system with thermal imaging provides substantial support during firing. Such armament and equipment provide the Leopard 2A4 with better offensive capabilities than older versions. Ukrainian tank operators have repeatedly emphasized this.
