German Federal Army: "Leopard 2" Combat Tank.

Genesis of the Leo //

The first series A 0 of the "Leopard 2" battle tank was the most up-to-date tank of its kind and its time. 300 hundred of this tank were built in 1979. 750 additional tanks of the improved version A 1 with heat imaging equipment and a new tank followed immediately. The first series was retrofitted with this equipment accordingly and designated as version A 2. Starting in 1984, 300 units were built with new radio equipment and with the NATO spotted camouflage paint scheme as version A 3. The last production version A 4 was built in three groups between 1985 and 1993 with a total of 695 units: it was equipped with a fire suppression system and reinforced tread skirting. 350 version A 4 "Leopards" were retrofitted starting in 1995 with "enhanced combat qualities". These units with reinforced armor, fully electric steering gear, and a navigation system are the version A 5. 225 version A 6 tanks with reinforced weaponry have been derived from these units, and for the time being they were the end of the development of the "Leopard 2" at the turn of the millennium.