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Leopard 2HEL (2013 mod.) is a variant of the Leopard 2HEL as showcased in IDEX 2013 that took place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). It was part if a package proposed to upgrade the Leopard 2HEL in Leopard 2A7 levels.
Details
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Greece moved to modernize its increasingly outdated armored forces. Rising regional competition, including programs such as Turkey’s Altay, underscored the need for a contemporary main battle tank with strong firepower, protection, and mobility.
A competitive evaluation held in 1998 tested several candidates, among them the Leopard 2A5, Challenger 2E, Leclerc, M1A2 Abrams, T-80U, and T-84. The Leopard 2A5 emerged as the clear favorite thanks to its overall performance and NATO compatibility. This led to a government-to-government agreement with Germany in March 2003 for 170 new tanks valued at roughly €1.7 billion. The package also covered the transfer and refurbishment of 150 Leopard 1A5s in Greece and the later acquisition of 183 surplus Leopard 2A4s.
The resulting Leopard 2HEL (also designated Leopard 2A6HEL or Leopard 2A6GR) was developed from the German Leopard 2A6 export configuration, itself rooted in the experimental 2A6EX program. It mounts the L/55 120 mm smoothbore gun, enhanced fire-control systems, and improved armor. Greek-specific modifications include additional armor on the upper glacis and crew hatches, the full MEXAS modular armor suite, the Rheinmetall Iniochos command-and-control system, a Zeiss Ophelios thermal camera, a roof-mounted meteorological sensor, improved top-attack protection, and full air-conditioning. Proposals for a Euro Power Pack and third-generation thermal sights were considered but dropped for reasons of time, cost, and integration.
Production was divided to involve Greek industry: the first 30–40 tanks were completed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann in Germany, while the remaining 140 were assembled by ELBO in Greece. Vehicles underwent extensive trials in Germany before shipment and further user testing in Greece. Deliveries ran from 2006 to 2009; the first Greek-assembled example was handed over in October 2006, and the type formally entered service in May 2008 with the 25th Armored Brigade at Xanthi.
For its time the Leopard 2HEL ranked among the most capable main battle tanks in the world, combining the firepower of the top German 2A6 variants with protection levels that compared favorably even to the Swedish Strv 122. Today the 170 vehicles, together with the 183 Leopard 2A4s, give the Hellenic Army one of the largest and most modern Leopard 2 fleets in Europe. They have not seen combat but remain a core conventional deterrent in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean. Greece continues sustainment and upgrade work—drawing on lessons from recent conflicts—in cooperation with German and KNDS partners to keep the fleet effective for decades to come.
Details
From the start they have been talks and multiple proposals from multiple companies but especially from KMW / KNDS to upgrade the Leopard 2HEL in Leopard 2A7/ 2A7V standard. From all the proposals that include armour, Active Protection System (APS), advanced FCS systems, RCWS and other top end technologies. The only proposal as of today that had an actual prototype was in IDEX 2013 were a Leopard 2HEL was fitted with a remote weapon system FLW 200, in that package was also included additional armour and new FCS but never got installed. So the FLW 200 is the main star if this modification. The FLW 200 remote weapon station would give the Leopard 2HEL a fully stabilized 12.7 mm heavy machine gun that can be aimed and fired from under armour, significantly improving close-range self-defense and urban combat capability without exposing the crew. Also the addition of new sighs and additional smoke grenades improve the awareness and survivability of the tank.
Details
Crew: 4
Elevation (Max and Min):-10° / 20°
Stabilized: 2 plane stabilizer
Main gun: 120mm L/55
Secondary: 7.62 mm MG3A1 machine gun (coaxial), 12.7mm M2HB
Smoke Grenades: 16+6 (22 in total)
Length, hull: 7.722 meters
Width: 3.75 meters
Height: 3 meters
Weight:62.5tFLW 200 in the 12.7 mm (.50 cal) configuration
This is the most common heavy-machine-gun version of the FLW 200.
Key specifications for the 12.7 mm setup
- Weapon: 12.7 × 99 mm NATO heavy machine gun
(standard options: M2 QCB / M2HB or Rheinmetall RMG.50)- Ammunition capacity: typically 100 ready rounds (some configurations allow up to 200 rounds depending on the ammunition box size)
- Elevation range: –15° to +70°
- Traverse: continuous 360°
- Laying speeds: up to ~60°/s (traverse) and ~30°/s (elevation)
- Stabilisation: dual-axis gyro stabilisation → effective fire on the move
- Sensors:
- High-resolution colour CCD day camera with zoom
- Cooled thermal imager
- Laser rangefinder
- Day/night image fusion
- Carriage weight (without weapon & ammo): ≈ 185 kg
Overall system height ≈ 750 mm- Effective engagement range: up to approximately 1,500–2,000 m against soft or lightly armoured targets
Details
Leopard 2HEL equipped with L/55 smoothbore cannon which allows to fire different ammunition:
Ammunition
DM-12A1
DM-63/A1 (post penetration incendiary effect)
DM-53/A1 (post penetration incendiary effect)
DM-43
DM-33
RH-31
Also with this Leopard 2HEL gets upgraded thermals called “Ophelios” which have second gen (for commander and gunner)
Details
Greece was impressed by addition MTU 883 Ka-501 engine (1630 h. p. like leopard 2a6ex demo 2 and leopard 2PSO have) , but it was rejected by financial reasons. So we have standard leopard engine…
Engine: MTU MT 873 Ka-501 V-block 12-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine
Power: 1500 hp
Transmission: RENK HTWL 354, 4 speed forward/2 reverse
Top Speed: 72 km/h
Reverse top speed: 31 km/h
Power to weight: 24 hp/t
Suspension: Torsion bar
Special thanks to @NER055
Sources:
- Отличия танков Леопард-2
- Отличия танков Леопард-2
- IDEX 2013 (4): Indoor Area Exhibition (1) – Military In the Middle East
- https://search.brave.com/search?q=KMW+Leopard+2A6+HEL+at+the+IDEX+2013&conversation=0990a6c467a16cbf8924b345bbc66d25b8a8
- Leopard 2A6 HEL на IDEX 2013
- German main battle tank Leopard 2: stages of development. Part of 10
- Gesamtwerk Leopard 2
