Ukraine is about to launch its counteroffensive – and will also rely on modern battle tanks sent by Western partners. Including the German Panther tank.
But the Russian invaders are ready.
BILD shows that three weapon systems used by the Russian Armed Forces pose a particular threat to Leopard tanks.
Russian Panzerabwehr Lenkwaffen
The biggest threat to Leos is modern anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). These are primarily designed to destroy enemy main battle tanks and are usually deployed by small infantry from camouflaged positions, sometimes mounted on vehicles.
Most modern Russian ATGMs are wire-guided: after launch, the guided missile unwinds the wire coil, the gunner keeps the target in his sights through the aiming optics, and the missile automatically follows him.
In particular, the new Russian models from the 9K135 were specifically developed to combat modern main battle tanks such as the Leopard-2. Defend almost everywhere to break almost all modern main battle tanks.
The Israeli military discovered how effective the use of such systems was during the 2006 Lebanon War: the terrorist organization Hezbollah used Russian Medes-M systems there and managed to disable several Israeli Merkava tanks.
The Ukrainian military has already used such systems very effectively, including its own development called Stukna-B: many of the nearly 2,000 Russian battle tanks lost in Ukraine were destroyed by anti-tank guided missiles.
A Russian Wagner mercenary with a Garnet-type anti-tank guided missile. Their missiles are too lethal for even the most modern Panther tanks
However, now the roles are reversed: the Ukrainian army must go on the offensive with its battle tanks. It depends on how well the Russian anti-tank forces position themselves and the accompanying Ukrainian infantry fighting them before they can launch their deadly missiles.
Anti-tank mines
Another powerful weapon in the Russian arsenal: anti-tank mines. In particular, the well-known TM-62 and its successors (between 7 and 8 kilograms of explosives) are widespread in the Russian arsenal. In simple models, ignition is by pressure when a heavy tank runs over the mine, in other types by vibration or a magnetic detonator.
TM-62 anti-tank mines in Ukraine. The mining belts are a key component of the Russian defense strategy against an expected Ukrainian attack
Especially insidious: anti-tank mines are often laid with anti-personnel mines to prevent easy removal. Mine obstacles do not always need to be concealed, and are sometimes intended to ambush an attacker, where troops with anti-tank guided missiles are ambushed in an advantageous firing position.
Timely detection and removal of such mine obstacles will be one of the most important tasks for Ukrainian engineering teams.
Main battle tank
Another danger: Russian battle tanks. Although tank battles are relatively rare in Ukraine, the Russian army has already lost many of its new tanks and modern Leopard tanks are superior to most Russian models in every way.
But: relatively modern Russian battle tanks of the T-72B3, T90A/S/M or T-80BVM type with powerful targeting systems can certainly keep up with Leos, the latest rockets fired from the 2A46 cannon (125mm) should also be affected. Leopard Armor Penetration 2A6.
In a direct fight between Leos and Russian tanks, it should be less about the technical data and more about the capabilities of the respective tank crews and adequate intelligence – that is, who can find the enemy first and win.
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