As we pointed out in a relatively recent article of ours, entitled, "The Turks roared, panic over the development of the Greek defense industry and the leaps it made in 2022", our country has made leaps in this sector.
The Greek self-protection solution of the Leopard 2-A4 tank
This fact, however, is highlighted by an International reputable media in defense matters, which reports that "the Greek company EODH SA presents the complete modernization solution for the Leopard 2-A4 Tank at the exhibition DEFEA-2023", citing as highlights in our estimation the following:
"The Greek company EODI S.A. presented the version of the modernization of the Leopard 2A4 main battle tank at the DEFEA exhibition. Its first photos did not allow a full assessment of the proposed solution. Despite the initial impression that it was only a protection installation, the improvement of vehicle turned out to be more complete.
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In addition to ASPIS dynamic protection blocks, NERA elements and anti-additive grids, EODI SA proposes the placement of active protection elements in the turret.
Overall, this complex solution has been named ASPIS Modular NG-MBT.
Instead of trying to copy the active protection system of the Israeli Trophy, which intercepts all threats from all angles, the Greeks focused on protecting the upper hemisphere.
To achieve this, millimeter wave radar sensors are used. They provide the command to fire explosives in the required direction, destroying threats approaching significant angles of attack.
Limiting the area of responsibility of the active protection system is of great importance.
EODI S.A. has solved a number of problems with this solution.
What the Greek proposal ensures and its advantages
First, the prioritization of threats, because in the event of the need to use an integrated complex of active defense, it is necessary to select targets and distinguish objects that are not a threat.
Second, ensuring the safety of infantry escorts from being hit by the active defense system.
Finally, active defense against anti-tank missiles and kamikaze drones is much simpler than intercepting sub-caliber munitions flying at 1.5 km/s.
In the case of protecting only the upper hemisphere, these issues are resolved.
In addition, anti-tank missiles that attack from above, as well as kamikaze drones, which are a new threat on the battlefield, are also not a problem.
Dynamic protection, NERA elements and anti-stacking grids create a complex solution that significantly enhances the protection of the Leopard 2A4 tank.
Despite its advantages, the weight of the system remains a concern, as the Leopard 2-A4 chassis is designed to support a weight of up to 59 tons without significant modifications, leaving only a 4-ton weight reserve.
For example, the Polish version of the Leopard 2PL tank remained in this weight range, while the Turkish modernization version increased the weight to 61.3 tons.
However, the solution of EODI SA is remarkable for the use of active protection in the upper hemisphere, since similar developments exist in Ukraine as well."
The advantage over the Turkish AKKOR self-protection system of the ALTAY tank
It is clear that the Greek ASPIS Modular NG-MBT solution for Leopard2-A4 tanks presents a unique advantage, intercepting enemy anti-tank missiles attacking from any direction, even those that follow a top-down trajectory, such as the missiles of mortars and hit the tanks in their upper part where their armor is small, such as the American JAVELINs as well as the kamikaze drones.
This protection against JAVELINs and kamikaze drones is not provided by the highly touted Turkish AKKOR self-protection system on ALTAY tanks, with the result that Greek tanks have the comparative advantage
