Austria wants to upgrade Leopard 2A4 tanks to A7 level

The German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) will start upgrading Leopard 2A4 tanks to A7 level. The Austrian Ministry of Defence is the customer.

Here's What We Know

KMW will start modernizing the Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks in 2023. At the same time the timing of the work and the number of combat vehicles to be upgraded, has not yet been specified.

The Leopard 2A4 will receive new armour elements, sights and fire control system. Instead of hydraulic systems electromechanical systems will be installed. Externally the Leopard 2A4 will also resemble the Leopard 2A7.

According to Defence24, the Austrian Army has around 40-56 tanks in service. In addition, up to 15 more Leopard 2A4s may be in storage.

The Leopard 2A4 appeared in 1985 as the latest version of the tank at the time. It was equipped with the 120 mm Rh-120 L/44 smoothbore gun and a 7.62 mm NG3 twin machine gun. The Ka-501's 12 litre MTU MB 873 engine produces 1,500 horsepower and enables the tank to reach a speed of 68km/h (31km/h in reverse).

Source: Defence24