Italy pays at least $4 billion for new German Leopard tanks

Various Italian media have reported on this operation, which is not yet official, and which they quantify at an estimated value of $4.5 billion. Moment, there is an official announcement from the Italian authorities last March about their intention to acquire 125 new battle tanks to reinforce their locally manufactured Ariete C-1 fleet, BulgarianMilitary reports.

Leopard 2A8 has aroused interest

The head of the Italian Army General Staff, General Pietro Serino, then cited during an interview in the Italian Defence Magazine the country’s interest in the purchase within this plan of 125 Leopard 2A7+, which is the latest version of the model available.

Shortly after, German plans to obtain a more advanced version of the tank called the Leopard 2A8, became known, which has aroused interest both in Italy and in other countries immersed in new Leopard 2 purchases, such as the Czech Republic and Norway.

What do we know about Leopard 2A8?

The Leopard 2A8 is based on the 2A7HU variant, ordered by Hungary in 2018. The new tank is expected to integrate the Trophy active protection system [APS] from the Israeli company Rafael, capable of intercepting projectiles before they hit the target. tank, and the inclusion of the 120 mm L55 smoothbore cannon already used by the 2A7+, with a higher muzzle velocity than the previous L44 previously used by the Leopard 2.

To improve crew conditions, the future tank will have a new refrigeration system, and will also have a more capable additional power generator and an external telephone to facilitate communications with non-embarked troops.

The driver of the 2A8 will be able to improve vehicle handling at night thanks to a combined night vision system with a thermal imager and a low light amplifier, both for front and rear vision.

The new optronics of the car will allow obtaining better information on what happens at greater distances; you will have easier and more intuitive digitized controls; the command and information system will be superior to the current ones and will be able to fire programmable detonation ammunition, to gain flexibility and efficiency, while minimizing collateral damage.