As Russia prepares to roll out its next-generation T-14 Armata,
NATO countries are stepping up the pace of their existing tank modernization programs.
Here are five of the most advanced tanks that are fielded,
or will be fielded in the near future by NATO.
1. M1A2C
The M1A2C in its latest 2019 configuration is without a doubt the most advanced tank in the
NATO inventory. It’s the only NATO tank with a fielded active-protection system
and a “smart” programmable armor-piercing round. It also features upgrades to the internal
armor arrays in the hull and turret, as well as upgraded third-generation thermal imaging systems.
The main armament of M1A2 SEP V3 includes one 120 mm smoothbore M256 cannon. The tank
will be fitted with a Low Profile (LP) CROW (Common Remotely Operated Weapon System).
This effort improves the tank commander’s situational awareness without compromising
capability. LP CROWS significantly lowers the profile of the weapon station, returning both
open- and closed-hatch fields of view (FOV). Also, LP CROWS will be equipped with an upgraded day
camera that uses picture-in-picture technology to combine different FOVs, and it offers a
340 percent larger scene in the wide FOV. The second armament includes a coaxial 7.62 mm M240
machine gun mounted to the right of the main gun, and a similar weapon skate-mounted on the left
side of the turret for the loader can be elevated from -30 to +65º, total traverse being 265º.
The loader hatch weapon system is now protected by armor plates on 360°.
On both sides of the turret, the tank is fitted with six-barrelled smoke grenade dischargers,
model L8A1, designation M250. A smokescreen can also be laid by an engine-operated system.
The M1A2 SEP V3 will be able to fire the M829E4 (soon to be type-classified as the M829A4)
fifth-generation kinetic-energy anti-tank (AT) round. This new round provides heavy-armor
defeat capability at extended ranges. It uses a depleted-uranium penetrator
and anti-armor design advancements to defeat threat targets equipped with AERA (Advanced
Explosive Reactive Armor) and APS (Active Protection Systems). The advanced multi-purpose
(AMP) round is a line-of-sight munition with three modes of operation: point detonate, delay
and airburst. This essential capability required in urban environments allows the tank crew to
defeat AT guided-missile teams at ranges of 50 to 2,000 meters with a precision lethal airburst.
The point-detonate and delay modes allow for obstacle reduction (OR),
bunker defeat, and a wall-breach capability for dismounted infantry.
The AMP round also reduces the logistics burden by replacing four existing rounds
(M830 high-explosive (HE) AT, M803A1 multipurpose HEAT, M1028 canister, and M908 HE-OR).
The tank will be also fitted with the Ammunition DataLink (ADL) to provide communications with
the platform’s fire-control system. The ADL consists of a modified breechblock,
upgraded Improved Fire-Control Electronics Unit, and upgraded Abrams tank software.
2. Leopard 2A7V
The latest German upgrade to the Leopard 2, the Leopard 2A7V features sensor, armament,
and armor upgrades along the same lines as the M1A2C.
The German Army Technical Center has conducted the first trial tests of the new Leopard 2A7V
Main Battle Tank (MBT). The design of the Leopard 2A7V is similar to the Leopard 2A7,
keeping a crew of four, including a driver located at the front-right of the hull.
The commander and gunner are on the right of the turret, and the loader is on the left.
The new Leopard 2A7V Main Battle Tank (MBT) has a total weight of around 60 tons
and is powered by an MTU Mb 873 ka 501, turbocharged diesel engine developing 1,500 hp.
It can run at a maximum road speed of 68 km/h, with a maximum cruising range of 550 km.
The main armament of the Leopard 2A7V consists of a Rheinmetall 120 mm L/55 smoothbore tank
gun able to fire the latest Rheinmetall 120 mm DM53 Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding
Sabot – Tracer (APFSDS-T) ammunition, using a non-depleted uranium penetrator,
which gives the Leopard 2A6 an additional combat range of 1,600 meters and much better armor
penetration characteristics. The Fire Control Systems of the Leopard 2A7V has been modified
to program the DM 11 High Explosive round. The time-delay fuse of the DM 11 can be programmed
after the loading to detonate at a specific point in the projectile’s flight path.The
secondary armament includes a 7.62 mm Rheinmetall MG3 machine gun mounted coaxially to the left
of the gun. Another 7.62mm machine gun can be mounted on the loader’s hatch.
3. Leclerc XLR
France’s advanced Leclerc tank is also receiving an upgrade in the near future
with the XLR variant. The primary feature of the upgrade is the integration with the SCORPION
battlefield network that’s expected to equip all future French vehicles.
Armor is also increased, but no active protection systems have been spotted.
The renovated MBT Leclerc Scorpion / XLR will keep the same armament as the standard Leclerc tank
which consists of a Giat 120 mm 52 caliber smoothbore gun designated the CN 120-26.
The gun is fitted with a thermal sleeve and a compressed air system for blowing
out propellant fumes. The turret is equipped with an automatic loading system that contains
22 rounds of ready-use ammunition normally loaded from outside through a small hatch in the back of
the turret bustle. The new Leclerc will be able to fire two main types of 120 mm ammunition,
the APFSDS (Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding-Sabot) with a muzzle velocity of
1,790 m/s and HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) with a muzzle velocity of 1,100 m/s,
both having a semi-combustible cartridge case containing a dual-base solid propellant.
Nexter has also developed a new type of 120mm High-Explosive (HE) rounds designated HE M3M
that can be set for impact, delay, and airburst function. A 12.7 mm machine gun
is mounted coaxially with the main armament. The Leclerc Scorpion is also fitted with a remotely
operated weapon station mounted on the top of the turret which is armed with a 7.62mm machine gun.
4. Strv 122C
Sweden is also upgrading its fleet of Leopards in the C variant of the
Strv 122, a version of the Leopard 2A5. The primary upgrades appear to be sensor-related,
with the changing of the earlier thermals to third-generation devices.
Strv 122s have better armor than most NATO Leopard 2s,
as they are fitted with the full MEXAS-H armor package, which was reduced on German Leopard 2A5s.
This gives them better protection against cluster artillery munitions.
However, the 122C’s armament is not receiving a big upgrade and retains the unupgraded L/44 gun,
limiting its armor-piercing potential.
5. Leopard 2A6 HEL
Greece’s Leopard 2A6 features additional armor versus regular Leopard 2A6s, being an adapted
version of the Leopard 2A6EX prototype. The additional armor comes from additional
reinforcements on the upper glacis plate and crew hatches, as well as a full MEXAS package.
While the 2A6 HEL only features a standard L/55 gun,
it remains one of the more deadly tanks within NATO.
A new smoothbore gun, the 120mm L55 Gun, was developed by Rheinmetall Waffe Munition
of Ratingen, Germany, to replace the shorter 120mm L44 smoothbore tank gun
on the Leopard 2. The extension of the barrel length from caliber length 44
to caliber length 55 results in a greater portion of the available energy in the barrel being
converted into projectile velocity increasing the range and armor penetration.
The L55 smoothbore gun, equipped with a thermal sleeve, a fume extractor, and a muzzle reference
system, is compatible with current 120mm ammunition and new high-penetration ammunition.
As a result of tactical requirements, Rheinmetall Waffe Munition developed
the improved kinetic energy ammunition known as LKE 2 DM53. With the DM53 round,
the L55 gun can fire to a range of 5,000m. The effect of the kinetic energy projectile
on an enemy target is achieved by the penetrator length and projectile mass
and the impact velocity, and the interaction between the projectile and the target.
The penetrator material is heavy tungsten powder in a monoblock structure.
The improved kinetic energy ammunition has higher muzzle energy and recoil forces.
Especially when using the new DM 53 KE round, the L55 enables a 30% increase in performance compared
with conventional systems. For example, a muzzle velocity can be achieved in excess of 1,750m/s.
Leopard 2 is equipped with a land navigation system from the company LITEF of Bonn, Germany,
which is a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman (formerly Litton) of the USA. The hybrid
navigation system consists of a global positioning system (GPS) and an inertial navigation system.