A Ukrainian Leopard 1A5 tank, upgraded with additional protection, endured at least eight direct hits from Russian first-person-view (FPV) drones and potentially three more before being disabled, according to Ukrainian sources.
A video published by the Ukrainian Militarnyi news outlet demonstrates the effectiveness of the modifications made to the Cold War-era tank by Ukrainian engineers.
Leopard 1A5DK only being finished after 9 FPV hits, And there is no confirmation as to whether two more hit the vehicle, which would make a total of 11. pic.twitter.com/Yg06XE33k0
— 2S7 Pion (Trost) (@Trotes936897) January 23, 2025
The tank, originally positioned in a wooded area, was first targeted by Russian drones that struck its frontal armor three times and hit its left side and rear twice. The crew managed to move the tank to a road to escape further attacks but stopped for unknown reasons.
At that point, three additional drones struck the engine compartment, though the vehicle continued to move. It was finally immobilized after two more strikes, reportedly causing a fire.
Ukrainian reports suggest the crew likely escaped during the intervals between the attacks, as most of the strikes targeted areas away from the crew compartments.
The Leopard 1A5, developed in the 1960s, is known for its mobility and firepower but has thin base armor, with its thickest point being 70 millimeters. Recognizing this vulnerability, Ukrainian engineers enhanced the tanks with additional protective features after they were delivered by a German-Danish-Dutch consortium in late 2023.
The first confirmed loss of Ukrainian Leopard 1A5 tank on the Kupyansk-Svatove direction. pic.twitter.com/E7jWRcLesQ
— Military Advisor (@miladvisor) November 28, 2023
These upgrades included explosive reactive armor to deflect impacts, protective mesh and grilles over vulnerable areas like the engine, and cope cages designed to counter drone and mortar attacks.
Analysts believe that these modifications allowed the tank to survive far more damage than it would have in its original configuration. Analysts have also noted that the enhancements likely saved the crew’s lives by absorbing and mitigating the impact of the drone strikes.
