Thread by @JonHawkes275

1/ A short summary of 🇪🇸's Leopard 2E upgrade plans.

Spain bought 219 Leopard 2E (local name Leopardo 2E), which are broadly speaking a 2A6 analogue with the Strv 122/2A6HEL roof armour and some unique to Spain C4 gear (LINCE BMS, Indra licence-built TI optics etc)

2/ The initial plan was to manage obsolescence and reduce some of the maintenance burden - in recent years the training has been curtailed simply because funding for spares and consumables wasn't there, so they are rather keen to minimise outdated elements.

3/ However, some money has been found somewhere, and so the upgrade plan has expanded into a multi-phase approach. Phase 1 will result in the Leopard 2E M1, and remains on the original plan - obsolescence management and sustainment efficiencies. IOC is planned for 2029.

4/ Phase 2 will then apply more substantial MLU enhancements, resulting in the Leopard 2E M2, broadly analogous to the 2A7A1/2A7HU/2A7NO configurations, give or take. Appearance is for a UK-style "fitted for but not with" approach to the expensive bits like APS and RWS.

5/ This brings us to Phase 3 which would procure equipment sets to equip vehicles, currently expected to be 60, with all the bells and whistles for operational use. Vehicles in the full fit-out would be designated Leopard 2E M2+ and the intent is to see FOC for those in 2032.

6/ Leopard 2E M2+ will include APS (undoubtedly Trophy), L55A1 gun, RWS, laser warning system, new armour package including passive and reactive elements, mine/IED underbody armour, smoke protection (looks like ROSY) and a "new drive line" which is a bit unclear but looks like...

7/ ...new tracks & sprockets, rather than anything wild like a new suspension system or other far reaching changes. Will have to include new torsion bars to balance & accommodate all the kit being thrown on. Tracks will remain steel as CRT cant yet work with the weights involved.

8/ One interesting oddity of Spain's Leopard 2 history is that after the 30 initial KMW-made vehicles, remaining 189 were made locally in Spain by Empresa Nacional Santa Bárbara (ENSB), which later became GDLS-Santa Barbara Sistemas via acquisition. As a result, it looks like...

9/ ...the 2E modernisation will be directed to be carried out locally by the same organisation, resulting in this particular latest Leopard 2 variant being a GD product, in a manner of speaking. The oddities of defence consolidation and local manufacture requirements.

10/ A few observations. Phased approach is good, not resetting the planned obsolescence work but instead building on it incrementally, and the equipment set concept is a good way to manage limited budgets and is something most users are doing with expensive APS systems anyway.

11/ Timeline tight w/FOC 2032 but approach looks to be usual affair with Leo2 leveraging user group & keeping in realms of reality. Main risk factor is GDLS-SBS, whilst new Leo2 like 2A7HU have been fielded quickly, that was using hot lines at KMW, not (re)starting older lines...

12/ ...but SBS are very active right now manufacturing all sorts of AFVs, and this is a upgrade not a new build project so its a lower risk.

One to watch, and another nicely spec'd Leopard 2 in the world is never a bad thing! /end