Ukrainian Leopard 1A5 with ERA. Did it Come from Poland?

Ukraine has been receiving the Leopard 1A5DK main battle tanks so far. The Ukrainian soldiers received 50 examples so far, out of 150 declared by several different coalitions. Furthermore, Germans declared they would transfer 30 examples of the 1A5BE variant, procured from the Belgian OIP Land Systems company.

Notably, it shall be noted that back then Rheinmetall rebought more MBTs, but 17 of these had no turret. It may be assumed that the latter would be converted to self-propelled Skyranger 35 anti-aircraft systems. No confirmations are available as to whether the main battle tanks overhauled in Germany have been delivered, as the main focus is tied to maintenance of the Leopard 1A5DK main battle tanks. Nonetheless, a platform as such appeared in Ukraine in January this year. The tank serves in the 59th Mechanized Brigade.

Where did that rare variant of Leopard 1 come from? Many symptoms suggest that this example is the tank that we mentioned in October last year. Back then, the Shooters and Collectors Association „Three Strongholds” organized a crowdfunding campaign aimed at overhauling and upgrading a Leopard 1A5BE main battle tank, expected to be sent to Ukraine.

The intent was to collect PLN 700,000, but the organization managed to get just 97 thousand. After a certain period, the persons involved declared that the vehicle had already reached the manufacturer. Photos of the Leopard 1A5BE MBT recently emerged, showing it with Kontakt-1 ERA on the front (Ukrainian Nozh inserts may be used here as well). Is that the tank provided by the Polish organization? Maybe.

It is not the first Leopard 1A5 to have received an upgrade as such. In May this year, we have been describing a similar A5DK MBT. We do not know how the detonation of a Kontakt-1 module may impact the tank’s structure where the armour is as thick as one associated with IFVs. Installation of Kontakt-1/Nozh explosive modules may protect the crew from shaped charge warheads, used in the case of the FPV drones for instance. However, the simultaneous explosion of several modules may damage the turret or hull structure. The situation as such may pose a serious hazard for the crew.

Leopard 1A5BE is a Belgian Leopard 1 upgrade. The programme was launched by the Belgian Ministry of Defence in 1987. The upgrade works included a modernization of the SABCA FCS. The works involved the installation of thermal imaging systems for the day/night sight, integrated with a laser rangefinder. Furthermore, the Belgian Leopard 1A5 MBT also had the 7.62 mm FN MAG machine gun installed, instead of the German MG3. Before the upgrade, the MBT had been fitted with extra armour from Blohm und Voss. The main gun - L7A3 105 mm, 52-calibre long threaded barrel - remained unchanged. 132 main battle tanks were upgraded to that standard.