Ukrainian Leopard 2А4s have been equipped with reactive armor

2 July, 2023 Ukrainian Leopard 2A4 with ERA, 2023. Freeze frame from the video Leopard 2?4 tanks of the Ukrainian Defense Forces were equipped with explosive reactive armor.

A video with one such combat vehicle was published on social media. The installation of explosive reactive armor (ERA) is designed to increase the tank's survivability on the battlefield. Judging by the video, the Kontakt-1 ERA containers were installed on the front and side projections of the turret and the sides of the hull of the Leopard tank.

Meanwhile, the nose of the combat vehicle's hull is not equipped with additional protection.

Leopard 2A4 with reactive armor in Ukraine, 2023.

Freeze frame from the video

The RODVE-D thermal imaging module of the driver is noticeable on the upper frontal part of the hull near the hatch of the driver. This allows to assume that this is probably a Leopard 2A4CAN tank (Canadian version 2A4), transferred to Ukraine as military assistance.

The driver's thermal imaging module on the Canadian Leopard 2A4CAN tank, and Leopard 2 with reactive armor, demonstrated in Ukraine, 2023. Freeze frame from the video

Elements in the mounted blocks protect armored vehicles primarily from HEAT ammunition.

In the case of ERA element penetration with a shaped charge, two protection elements inside the housing of each such element would detonate.

Container and element of Kontakt-1 ERA

Each ERA element consists of an explosive and a steel cover, which start to move forward after detonation. At the same time, they cross the trajectory of the shaped charge, constantly affecting it. Thus, the energy of the jet is consumed to penetrate these plates, and the lateral impulse from the collision destabilizes the jet.

Due to the ERA elements action, the armor penetration characteristics of the HEAT ammunition are reduced.

This helps protect armored vehicles from significant damage from light anti-tank weapons.

To provide protection against various anti-tank grenade launchers and kamikaze drones, reactive armor units will likely equip all or most, at least Leopard 2 tanks, transferred to Ukraine from Western countries.