Profile
- Type
- Main battle tank
- Conflict side
- Ukraine
- Origin
- West Germany
- Service note
- Cold War design, refurbished for Ukrainian service in the 2020s
Tanks
Leopard 1A5
The Leopard 1A5 is a German main battle tank modernization centered on improved fire control, thermal sighting, and the 105 mm L7-series gun. In the Russia-Ukraine War, refurbished A5-family tanks from European industrial stocks give Ukrainian armored units a lighter Western tank with good mobility and logistics support, but less passive protection than newer Leopard 2 variants.
- Conflict side
- Ukraine
- Built by
- KNDS Deutschland
- Built in
- Germany
Service History
- In service
- Leopard 1 family entered service in the 1960s; Leopard 1A5-family vehicles were refurbished and supplied to Ukraine from 2023.
- Used by
- Ukrainian Armed Forces
- Wars
- Russia-Ukraine War
Production History
- Built by
- KNDS Deutschland
- Built in
- Germany
- Variants
- Leopard 1A5, Leopard 1A5 DK, Leopard 1A5 DK-1
Specifications
- Crew
- 4
- Armament
- 105 mm L7A3 rifled gun and two 7.62 mm machine guns
- Weight
- 42.2 t
- Engine
- 610 kW (830 hp)
- Maximum speed
- 65 km/h
- Range
- 550 km
- Fire control
- A5-family upgrade added EMES-18 fire control, thermal sight, and laser rangefinder on Danish A5 DK vehicles
Conflict Usage
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Side: Ukraine
Ukraine received refurbished Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks through a German-Danish-Dutch initiative that included training, spare parts, and ammunition; Germany later listed 103 delivered with spares and additional tanks in preparation.
Leopard 1A5 Images
Related Weapon Systems
M-55SUpgraded T-55 main battle tankThe M-55S is Slovenia's modernized T-55 main battle tank, rebuilt by ST Ravne with a 105 mm gun, explosive reactive armor, fire-control upgrades, laser-warning equipment, and NATO-compatible ammunition. During the Russia-Ukraine War, Slovenia committed 28 M-55S tanks to Ukraine through a ring exchange with Germany, making the type a legacy Soviet chassis adapted for Western-supported Ukrainian armored forces.
Strv 122Main battle tankThe Strv 122 is Sweden's upgraded Leopard 2 main battle tank, adapted for Swedish service with reinforced protection, Swedish communications, smoke launchers, and a four-person crew. Sweden transferred ten tanks to Ukraine in 2023, pairing the donation with training for Ukrainian crews before the vehicles were fielded in the Russia-Ukraine War.
Challenger 2Main battle tankThe Challenger 2 is a British third-generation main battle tank built around a rifled 120 mm gun, heavy composite armor, and four-person crew operations. In the Russia-Ukraine War, the United Kingdom supplied a small squadron to Ukraine as one of the first Western main battle tank transfers of the full-scale invasion.
PT-91 TwardyMain battle tankThe PT-91 Twardy is a Polish main battle tank developed from the T-72M1 with domestic upgrades including ERAWA explosive reactive armor, improved fire-control equipment, and an 850 hp diesel powerpack. In the Russia-Ukraine War it represents a Polish-supplied T-72-family tank type used to expand Ukraine's armored force with a familiar three-crew, autoloaded 125 mm platform.
AHS Krab155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzerThe AHS Krab is a Polish 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer built by Huta Stalowa Wola around a NATO-standard 52-caliber gun, an armored tracked chassis, and modern fire-control equipment. In Ukrainian service it gives artillery units a mobile Western-caliber gun able to fire standard 155 mm ammunition, displace after missions, and operate in counter-battery-threatened sectors of the Russia-Ukraine War.
AS-90155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzerThe AS-90 is a British tracked 155 mm self-propelled howitzer built for armored, mobile indirect fire support. In the Russia-Ukraine War it represents a UK-donated NATO-caliber artillery system for Ukrainian forces, combining a protected tracked chassis, 155 mm ammunition compatibility, rapid burst fire, and a conventional range of about 24.7 km.Sources
LEOPARD 1 A5Publisher: KNDS | Note: Supports current manufacturer background and published Leopard 1A5 specifications including weight, dimensions, engine output, speed, range, and armament. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Leopard 1Publisher: Pansermuseet Oksbol | Note: Supports A5 DK upgrade context, including EMES-18 fire control, thermal sight, laser rangefinder, crew, armament, mobility, and Danish service background. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Danmark indgar samarbejde om Leopard 1 kampvogne til UkrainePublisher: Danish Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use context: Leopard 1A5 tanks donated to Ukraine with training, spares, and ammunition. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Waffen und militarische Ausrustung fur die UkrainePublisher: Federal Government of Germany | Note: Supports Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use context: Leopard 1A5 tanks delivered to Ukraine with spares and additional tanks in preparation. | Accessed: 2026-06-20UA Leopard 1A5 firing.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Primary image provenance; Commons lists the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine as author and the file as CC BY 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Leopard 1A5.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Gallery image provenance; Commons lists the image under CC BY-SA 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-20