Canada to deploy upgraded Leopards

Canada is to field its upgraded Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBTs) in Afghanistan later this year, according to military officials.

Lt Col Alan Bolster, Director Land Requirements 3, Armoured Fighting Vehicle Systems, revealed the information during a briefing at the IQPC International Armoured Vehicles conference held in London in February.

Canada has leased 20 Leopard 2A6M MBTs from the German Army, of which 19 were deployed to Afghanistan and one retained by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann in Germany as a reference model.

Enhancements to the Canadian Leopard 2s include external heat shields; bar armour for increased protection against RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs); crew-cooling vests; electronic cooling; an enhanced chiller unit; and Canadian-specific communications equipment.

The tanks were already fitted with a mine protection kit (MPK) and have also been equipped with electronic systems to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs).