According to photos posted on Social Media on Saturday, February 4, the German company FFG (Flensburger Farhzeugbau Gesellschaft) unveiled the facility where the Danish Leopard 1A5 Main Battle Tanks that will be donated to Ukraine are stored. FFG will have 20 Leopard 1A5 tanks repaired and ready to ship to Ukraine in three months and another 20 tanks in six months.
On February 1, Army Recognition reported that Denmark was planning to buy 20 deactivated Leopard 1A5 MBTs from German firm FFG. Tanks of the Leopard 1A5 variety will be serviced and sent to Ukraine. The German company FFG has a stock of 100 Leopard 1A5s purchased in 2010 from the Danish government.
In June 1974, Denmark ordered 120 Leopard 1A3s to be manufactured in Germany. The first of these vehicles arrived in Denmark in March 1976, and the last arrived in Denmark in November 1978. Denmark upgraded the Leopard 1A3 to the more capable Leopard 1A5; the upgraded version is known as the Leopard 1A5DK.
Citing information from Thorsten Pieter, Sales Director of the Flensburger Farhzeugbau Gesellschaft, during the last inspection of existing Leopard 1A5 MBTs, some tanks were able to get ready quickly, while others needed more time.
The Leopard 1A5 is an improved variant of the original Leopard 1, developed by the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. The update includes improved armor, a new fire control system, and additional communication and navigation equipment integration.
The Leopard 1A5 DK is a version of the Leopard 1A5 designed specifically for the Danish Army. It features modifications and upgrades tailored to the specific requirements of the Danish Army, such as better armor protection, increased mobility, and advanced fire control systems.
The Leopard 1A5 DK is also equipped with several advanced electronic systems, such as communications equipment, navigation systems, and target acquisition devices. While the Leopard 1A5DK is structurally comparable to its German counterpart, the turret has been redesigned, and a new storage compartment has been added to the rear.
The Danish version of the Leopard 1A5 main battle tank is equipped with dozer attachment channels in the lower part of the front hull, so it can be fitted with a Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann dozer blade. It can be set up or taken down in about 10 minutes and can be locked up for travel.
The Leopard 1A5 DK is armed with a 105mm cannon (L7A3 from the Royal Ordnance of Nottingham) and two 7.62mm machine guns. The tank carries a total of 55 rounds, 13 in the turret and 42 in the hull. Mounted on each turret side is a bank of four smoke grenade launchers. It has a crew of four: driver, commander, gunner, and loader.
The Leopard 1A5 main battle tank is powered by a V-10-cylinder MTU MB 838 Ca M500 diesel engine that develops a power of 830 HP at 2,200 rpm. This engine provides the Leopard 1A5 with excellent acceleration, speed, and mobility, making it ideal for rapid armored operations on the battlefield.
The vehicle has a maximum speed of 65 km/h and a range of 600 kilometers on a single charge. The engine’s reputation for dependability and ease of maintenance means it can be counted on to keep the tank running smoothly and efficiently with minimal downtime.