Singaporean Leopard 2A4s debut in Australia

[Waylander]

In could live with the BW using the IBD upgrade for maybe a bn worth of A4. They could be issued to units when needed while the normal fleet retains the full duel capability at a reasonable weight.

This would also solve the weigt problems of the PSO.
It's not like one would need the heavy frontal KE protection and the L/55 for most overseas deployments short of letting the 1.Panzerdivision loose.

 

[Onkel]

Indeed. Would be a relatively cheap measure, given that there are still enough A 4 in storage. Combined with an enhanced Mine protection the Leopard 2 A 4 A PSO might be an alternative for oversea deployments, where the opponents usually don´t engage MTBs frontally.

 

[eckherl]

IBD said that they developed this for one special customer.

Most Leo II users already upgraded their tanks with a KWS II like solution (Germany, Netherlands, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Portugal), have their own upgrade program (Turkey, Switzerland) or no intention to upgrade theirs (Norway, Austria, Poland).

This left Chile, Finnland and Singapore in the equation.
Chile is a new customer and money might be a problem in their case, Finnland has a more conventional threat matrix were a KWS I/II like upgrade would fit better.

Singapore has both, the money and the threat matrix so my bet was on them being the one special customer.

Good informative post, many thanks.

 

[gary1910]

More pictures of SAF Leopard evo courtesy of NDP2010 Facebook

 

[gary1910]

Impressive video of Mobile Column at NDP rehearsal.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvH47ulDNAM"]YouTube- NDP 2010 Mobile Column Rehearsal @ Tuas[/nomedia]

SAF vehicles appearance:
1) Leo 2A4 MBT
2) Leo 2A4 EVO MBT
3) Bionix MkII IFV*
4) Back of Bionix 40/50 IFV?*
5) Bronco ATTC*
6) BV206
7) Flyer LSV
8) Trailblazer Tracked Mine Flail System( another Bionix variant)*
9) Bionix AVLB(MLC30)*
10) M113( upgraded to A3 standard?)**
11) Primus 155/39 SPH*
12) Mechainised Igla (based on M113 w/ 4 ready Igla)**
13 Terrex ICV*

The rest are from the Police and Civil Defence.....

*Singapore locally designed & manufactured.
** Locally upgraded/modified.

 

[Onkel]

Thank you for the interesting vid. Especially it is nice to see the upgraded Leo next to its basisversion. The Combination of Ad-on-armour in the front and slatarmour in the back was not part of the Amap-Kit I guess.

 

[gary1910]

Thank you for the interesting vid. Especially it is nice to see the upgraded Leo next to its basisversion. The Combination of Ad-on-armour in the front and slatarmour in the back was not part of the Amap-Kit I guess.

It is actually, look at the picture, it show slat armour at part of the sides as well as back of the hull.

http://www.rcpanzer.de/apboard/uploads/0000002669_zfVXtJbTO6.JPG

 

[Red]

Out-standing video. Well, the SAF is so full of surpises? Read from our local forums that Sipri very recently reported that the number of Leo 2A4 MBTs purchased by Singapore is around >180plus. That is even more than my initial estimates of around 132-150 tanks. Oh, what will they call this tank? It cannot be Leo 2A4 with all the upgrades definitely. Leo 2A7?Here's my old post with the upgrades as announced by SAF's previouse chief of army in an interview with the Asian Defence Journal;

==================================================================

1) They will retain the L44 120mm gun for the time being while retaining the possbility of upgrading them to the L55 gun in future. SAF feels that the L44 will be more than adequate currently given our own threat scenarios. Instead, the SAF will leverage on new versatile kinetic energy and multiple purpose ammunition(advanced kinetic energy rounds and programmable fuze, multi-purpose rounds) to hit and kill targets.

2) New network-centric Battlefield management system to be installed so that the Leos are linked to the SAF`s over-arching battle network.(Already known)

3) New "data-bus" system for better connectivity(SAF`s UAVs and other network centric systems)

4) New Auxilliary Power Unit for better sustainability and power

5) New fire control system for enhanced lethality

6) New armour modules "all-round" for better protection;hence new look

7) New running gear to cater for new weight growth due to new armour; im guessing it will probably be in the range of 60-65 tons.

 

[Red]

It is actually, look at the picture, it show slat armour at part of the sides as well as back of the hull.

http://www.rcpanzer.de/apboard/uploads/0000002669_zfVXtJbTO6.JPG

Gary and OPSG, side issue. What has happened to our indigenous light /medium tank project as reported by Janes several years ago? thanks

 

[Red]

Thank you for the interesting vid. Especially it is nice to see the upgraded Leo next to its basisversion. The Combination of Ad-on-armour in the front and slatarmour in the back was not part of the Amap-Kit I guess.

I am thinking that it might still be AMAP but production version or something Singapore specifically requested; i,e tailored solely for Singapore. There`s also the Israeli armor upgrade pack for Leo 2 tanks someone mentioned here not too long ago.

 

[Onkel]

I am thinking that it might still be AMAP but production version or something Singapore specifically requested; i,e tailored solely for Singapore. There`s also the Israeli armor upgrade pack for Leo 2 tanks someone mentioned here not too long ago.

No, Gary seems to be right: Seems to be a production version. The prototype´s Slat armor simply didn´t have the "grill" style but looked solid. I don´t think, Israel was involved.

 

[eckherl]

@Waylander,

Okay, how much of the new Rheinmetal MBT Revolution Program is actually entwined with Singapores upgrade program or is Singapores package pretty much established with just KMW, kinda exciting seeing two different packages ready for install on existing Leo 2A4, also has Germany officially given the PSO upgrade program for Leo2A6 the designation Leo2A7. Does the Singaporean or German upgrade also include a decoupled magazine system.

I have included one photo of the Revolution Upgrade Package and one with a Leo2A7?

 

[Red]

@Waylander,

Okay, how much of the new Rheinmetal MBT Revolution Program is actually entwined with Singapores upgrade program or is Singapores package pretty much established with just KMW, kinda exciting seeing two different packages ready for install on existing Leo 2A4, also has Germany officially given the PSO upgrade program for Leo2A6 the designation Leo2A7. Does the Singaporean or German upgrade also include a decoupled magazine system.

I have included one photo of the Revolution Upgrade Package and one with a Leo2A7?

Your first picture has some resemblance to Singapore's iteration of Leo 2. However, there are distinct angular differences. The same applies to IBD's solution.

We do not have much details about what changes they(Singapore) has made to the firing system apart from an acknowledgement from the chief of army that the fire control system will be upgraded/replaced.

That Singapore has opted to upgrade her Leos in this configuration instead of the typical 2A5/2A6 speaks volumes about two things. Firstly, the SAF expects to fight in fibua settings a lot more ala Israel's current security environ. Secondly, there will still be a need to fight in the jungle and I expect another tank platform, probably, lighter one and indigenously designed to be introduced by the SAF.

Do you have larger pictures by the way? thanks

 

[eckherl]

Your first picture has some resemblance to Singapore's iteration of Leo 2. However, there are distinct angular differences. The same applies to IBD's solution.

We do not have much details about what changes they(Singapore) has made to the firing system apart from an acknowledgement from the chief of army that the fire control system will be upgraded/replaced.

That Singapore has opted to upgrade her Leos in this configuration instead of the typical 2A5/2A6 speaks volumes about two things. Firstly, the SAF expects to fight in fibua settings a lot more ala Israel's current security environ. Secondly, there will still be a need to fight in the jungle and I expect another tank platform, probably, lighter one and indigenously designed to be introduced by the SAF.

Do you have larger pictures by the way? thanks

Here are a couple of additional photos these were pulled from Rheinmetalls site, I will get larger photos of the two posted prior.

 

[Waylander]

I know that they started to call the Leopard urban ops upgrade A7 at the Eurosatory but I haven't heard anything out of the Bundeswehr that this will be the official designation.

I also don't know of cooperations between IBD and Rheinmetall. Nevertheless they may have cooperated a little bit. But IBD also stated that their package is a new alternative to the established Leo upgrade suppliers. And as the package is based on their AMAP concept, which is purely their own range of products, I would think that it was IBD alone.

BTW , with the current talk about budget cuts it is entirely possible that the urban ops upgrade for our Leos gets postponed.

 

[Red]

Here are a couple of additional photos these were pulled from Rheinmetalls site, I will get larger photos of the two posted prior.

Hmmm...there is a resemblance indeed. See for yourself. What do you think?
The original video showcasing Singapore's new Leo 2s have been removed and re-uploaded. Here is the new link;

[nomedia]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvH47ulDNAM[/nomedia]

High definition footage available.

 

[gary1910]

Gary and OPSG, side issue. What has happened to our indigenous light /medium tank project as reported by Janes several years ago? thanks

No news at all, could be abandoned , afterall with the cheap Leo 2s and the new bde of Terrex with ATGM variant, we might not need any LT.

 

[gary1910]

Hmmm...there is a resemblance indeed. See for yourself. What do you think?
The original video showcasing Singapore's new Leo 2s have been removed and re-uploaded. Here is the new link;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvH47ulDNAM

High definition footage available.

Actually , I have already updated that post with the new link.

 

[Waylander]

Ok, I did a bit of research and it looks like the revolution upgrade is indeed a cooperation between Rheinmetall and IBD Deisenroth.

Since 2007 a company named Rheinmetall Chempro exists. Of this company 51% are owned by Rheinmetall and 49% by the Deisenroth family.

So the passive part of the package for Singapore was developed by IBD especially for Singapore. IBD now added their epxertise to the joint venture with Rheinmetall in order not to let KMW get the whole market for future Leopard upgrades.

 

[kato]

The IBD upgrade is called Evolution, the RLS upgrade is called Revolution. The basic difference is that Revolution includes all kinds of doohickeys RLS has been cooking up (mostly stemming from PSO). Revolution includes Evolution afaik.