Beautiful
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pibwl
Quote:
Originally Posted by dmnt
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026 Leopard 2PL - of course, like most of Polish AFV upgrade programs, it remained in plans only as for now  |
I must admit, I haven't checked progress in Leopard 2PL program, since they aren't in service yet. However, they were already ordered and deliveries of pre-series tanks are expected from 6/18.
The turret armour is said to be better, than in 2A5. Some claim, that it is 2A7 level (Polish article:
http://www.nowastrategia.org.pl/demo...o-leopard-2pl/), but this article
http://www.military-today.com/tanks/leopard_2pl.htm says "it offers higher protection than turret of the Leopard 2A5, however it can not match protection level of the Leopard 2A7".
Now turret front anti-HEAT is much worse than 2A5 (130 vs 185). Turret extra sides are thicker, than in A5, and might be A7 level indeed.
On the other hand, there is no information, that hull armour is to be modified, so it should stay on 2A4 level.
Fire control system is not to be upgraded in any substantial way, apart from newer and better TI cameras (which don't affect FC directly, I guess). (article in Polish:
http://www.altair.com.pl/e-report/view?article_id=820). I think that FC should be max 50 (2A5 has 45, German early 2A6 has 50).
New ammo DM53 is expected to be used (I hope, that the politicians won't decide, that they have a modernized tank, so they could save on ammo...). Therefore it should have better gun, than others. It should be given also some HE ammo (DM11).
An icon might need to be changed in a future, because a turret shape is different, but there are no good upper views as for now. I thought Turkish 7527 could do, but it has an extra side hull armour (
and a longer barrel - but should it?... ).
The best kind of upper views are here:
http://www.nowastrategia.org.pl/demo...o-leopard-2pl/
A photo is 2A5 now. There are photos of a prototype only as for now, most interesting is:
http://zbiam.pl/artyku%C5%82y/pierws...u-leopard-2pl/
Of course, apart from Leo 2PL, there should be regular
Leopard 2A5 available since mid-2014.