Thread by @KampfmitKette

A short thread on the 30 Leopard 1A5s from Belgium. Why you need 50 Leopard 1s to get 30 functioning Tanks and why a Leopard 1A5 is not the same as a Leopard 1A5 (sorry for no fancy pictures or videos) 1/x https://t.co/VDAXuODwEJ

https://twitter.com/handelsblatt/status/1688950891724910607

First of all those are not Leopard 1A5, ackchyually (🤓 ☝️) they are Leopard 1A5 BE/Belgium (or just Leopard 1 BE depending on the source and time). But why are two letters so important? 2/x

Because there are ALOT of different Leopard 1A5 Variants. Some with basically no changes to the original german version and others with some rather major changes.
3/x

But what is so special about the Leopard 1s from Belgium? The Leopard 1A5BE is the variant with the biggest internal differences compared to all the other variants. It featured a very advanced computerised fire control system (FCS) for its main gun. Sounds good, right? 4/x

It would be great if any other nation would still field the same FCS and if there was still a production/stock of spare parts. It was made worse by another boutique upgrade of the system during the 90s which only the Belgians procured. 5/x

The Canadians for example started out on their Leopard 1s with the belgian FCS but switched to the basically standard german FCS which is used by nearly every other Leo 1 User. Probably due to greater supply security with spares compared to the belgian FCS (but just my guess) 6/x

The owner of OIP Land Systems mentioned that the FCS is one of the major parts that needs a replacement. Together with the old age and other factors this leads to the need to cannibalise around 20 tanks to get spares for the other 30. 7/x
https://t.co/09px3ebDglvoanews.com/a/belgian-arms…

There are quite alot of current Leopard 1 upgrades being procured by Brazil and Greece for example. Cockerill is also offering a new modern turret that fits onto a Leopard 1 hull. But those upgrades haven't been fielded yet and are years away and very expensive 8/x

But we are reaching the end of tank stocks in europe right now with those belgian Leopard 1s. Other tanks are even older and probably in worse shape. Greece and Turkey still alot of Leopard 1s in service themselves but aren't willing to send them (with some other caveats). 9/x

The only other way to supply more tanks would be to send even more vehicles from active fleets (not really political viable), increase output of tanks that are still in production (too slow and too few probably), look outside of NATO (who? and they want tanks in return...) 10/10

Sources:
-The ol' reliable from the GOAT of AFVs
-A old Osprey Book
-Some articles from Shephard Media and Army Recognition
(More sources about the Leoaprd 1A5BE and the SABCA FCS are appreciated. There is really not alot about it in the literature.)

PS: If an adult* is reading this please don't believe that the end of service date of a system is in any way realistic and please buy spares or replacement parts instead of the next shiny thing.

*people who have any sort of influence on procurement