The Slovak Armed Forces have acquired another Leopard 2A4 main battle tank in compliance with the delivery timetable. This is the third tank acquired as part of the German donation, replacing the 30 BVP-1 (BMP-1) infantry fighting vehicles sent to Ukraine. This main battle tank like all others that have been or will be sent to Slovakia, received extensive repairs at Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH prior to handover. As part of the delivery process and the progressive deployment of Leopard main battle tanks into the Slovak Armed Forces, Záhorie Military Technical and Testing Institute is conducting regular tests of training ammunition for this type of equipment. The tank crews will receive instruction from Bundeswehr officers at the Leš? Training Center later this summer.
Trials of the first Leopard 2A4 main battle tank to verify some of its technical specifications and tactical performance parameters have been completed on the test tracks and firing range at the Military Technical and Testing Institute Záhorie. The results of the trials are currently being analyzed and evaluated by the Ministry of Defence. As the main battle tanks undergo trials before entering service with the Slovak Army, it is also necessary to get Slovak tank crews trained on the Leopard 2A4 main battle tank platform. Towards this end, training in all aspects of operating the Leopard 2A4 main battle tank will be led by Bundeswehr instructors at the Training Center Le as early as this summer.
As part of the live-firing test, the 120mm Rh120 L/44 gun as the main armament and the 7.62mm MG3 machine gun as the secondary armament on-board the main battle tank platform were fired, both from a static vehicle and while on the move. In addition, the smoke screen test showed how the smoke grenades would generate a thick smoke screen to mask the main battle tank’s location and movement. Test procedures to check the tank’s technical specifications, mobility, ammunition, and ergonomics are still scheduled to be conducted over the next two weeks. So far, no problems with the main battle tank have been reported. The trails are due to be complete on March 31, 2023.
The first Leopard 2A4 main battle tank delivered to Slovakia under an equipment exchange program with Germany in exchange for gifting its BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, is underway on the test tracks and firing range at the Záhorie Military Technical and Testing Institute. The trials of the Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks are taking place to verify some of the main battle tank’s technical specifications and tactical performance parameters as the Leopard 2A4 main battle tank, along with tank ammunition, is being accepted into service with the SVK Army. The first Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank (MBT), delivered to Slovakia under an equipment exchange program with Germany in exchange for gifting its BVP-1 IFVs to Ukraine.
