Turkey Unveils New Leopard 2A4 Upgrade Fitted Indigenous Armor Package

Aselsan has begun ‘mass production’ of an armour upgrade kit for Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks in service with the Turkish Land Forces. The armour package was designed at the Roketsan Ballistic Protection Center. According to Ismail Demir, head of the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), Developed in different configurations for turret and hull compartments according to threat analysis, the armour package still has the most effective ballistic protection used in Leopard 2A4 tanks in the world’s armies.

There are 344 Leopard 2A4s in the Turkish Land Forces inventory. These tanks have been modernized to the standard NG (Next Generation) by Aselsan. The Leopard 2A4 is an upgraded version of the first generation of Leopard 2 MBT including an automated fire and explosion suppression system, an all-digital fire control system able to handle new ammunition types and an improved turret with flat titanium/tungsten armor. It is also fitted with new optics and fire control system integrated by local components produced by the company Aselsan.

The Turkish Army is expected to receive upgraded Leopard 2A4 MBTs with additional Roketsan T1 reactive-passive armor armor in October. Integration of armour package will be conducted at the task area of tanks in the field conditions. The study on armour upgrade was carried out at the Roketsan Ballistic Protection Centre and the armour package was qualified recently. To provide the demanded survivability of today’s battlefield, the ballistic protection is increased with add-on armor modules with a combination of several systems providing protection against different threats.

The T1 armor is likely to contain a composite component. Including the turret sides and rear of the tank, and the engine compartment, it appears to be equipped with lattice armour, which provides protection against hollow charge ammunition. The cage has a structure that can withstand multiple hits. The gun shield and the front and sides of the turret were presumably protected with composite components and their survivability was increased. The level of protection has increased from the side of the tank to the engine compartment.