The Leopard 2A4 features a powerful 120mm Rheinmetall L44 smoothbore gun, enabling it to fire an array of munitions including APFSDS and HEAT rounds.

Supporting its main armament are two 7.62mm machine guns—one coaxial and one mounted on the loader’s hatch—for close-range defense. Its advanced composite armor incorporates steel, titanium, and tungsten, providing robust defense against both kinetic and chemical threats.

Additionally, the tank is equipped with an automatic fire and explosion suppression system, NBC protection, a laser rangefinder, ballistic computer, thermal imaging sights for both gunner and commander, and advanced night vision equipment.

This comprehensive suite enhances the tank’s targeting capabilities across various environmental conditions.

On the other side, the T-90M, a modernized derivative of the T-72B with influences from the T-80U, mounts a 125mm 2A46M-4 smoothbore gun that not only fires conventional munitions but also the 9M119 Refleks anti-tank guided missiles with a 5-kilometer range and anti-helicopter capability.

Secondary armaments include a 12.7mm Kord heavy machine gun and a 7.62mm PKMT coaxial machine gun.

In terms of protection, the T-90M is outfitted with the advanced Relikt ERA, surpassing the older Kontakt-5 in defending against tandem warheads and AP rounds.

The T-90M’s defenses are augmented by a countermeasure system capable of deploying smoke grenades against laser rangefinding, coupled with NBC protection for the crew.

Both tanks reflect their countries’ military doctrines and technological prowess. The Leopard 2 series, developed by Krauss-Maffei, originated to fulfill the demands of Cold War-era warfare, seeing its first operational deployment in the Kosovo conflict.

The T-90M, entering service in 1992, has demonstrated combat effectiveness and durability, notably during the invasion of Dagestan in 1999, where it survived multiple hits from RPGs while remaining battle-ready.

The comparison between the Leopard 2A4 and the T-90M underlines a fundamental aspect of modern armored warfare: the balance between offensive power and defensive survivability.

The Leopard’s sophisticated targeting systems and versatile gun armament suggest a focus on precision and adaptability in various combat scenarios.

The T-90M’s missile capability and advanced ERA hint at a design philosophy prioritizing layered defense and multipurpose threat engagement.

In the context of the Ukrainian conflict, the Leopard 2A4 tanks add a significant capability to the Ukrainian forces, potentially altering the dynamics on the ground. They will face Russian tanks, including the T-90M, in an environment where the interplay between technological sophistication and combat tactics will prove decisive.

The practical implications of the tank comparison are significant: it is not solely about which tank is superior in a one-on-one engagement, but also how each tank’s strengths and weaknesses are exploited or mitigated by their respective crews and the larger strategic framework within which they operate.

Relevant articles:
– How tanks on Ukrainian front lines compare: Leopard 2A4 vs Russian T-90M , Newsweek, 05/29/2024