A Ukrainian Leopard 1A5 tank demonstrated exceptional resilience against Russian FPV drones, surviving at least eight hits before being destroyed by additional strikes, Forbes war correspondent David Axe reports.
The incident highlights both the vulnerability and adaptability of Western-supplied armor in Ukraine.
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
Ukrainian engineers have significantly modified these 1980s-vintage tanks to address their primary weakness – thin armor protection.
“The problems of reinforcing the armor are already being solved by Ukrainian engineers,” Axe quotes Ukrainian ICTV.
These modifications include explosive reactive armor and specialized netting designed to trap incoming FPV drones.
The tank’s survival through multiple strikes validates these Ukrainian improvements, though it was eventually immobilized and destroyed after up to eleven drone hits. The fate of its four crew members remains unknown, but their chances were improved by the tank’s thoughtful ammunition storage design.
“[The tank] must roll back to a safe location,” a loader explained to Ukrainian media regarding the ammunition handling process. “This takes time.”
However, this careful approach reduces the risk of catastrophic ammunition detonation if the tank is hit. Despite its known armor limitations, the loader said he felt “great” about operating the Leopard 1A5.
Ukraine has received these tanks from a German-Danish-Dutch consortium, with around 90 currently in service and 50-60 more expected. This loss marks the eighth confirmed destruction of a Leopard 1A5 in Ukrainian service. Future deliveries will likely receive similar armor upgrades that proved effective in this encounter.
Read more:
- Frontline report: Ukrainian counterattack exposes Russian vulnerabilities near Pokrovsk
- Russians threaten to encircle strategic Velyka Novosilka as troops film from village center
- ISW: Russian authorities intensify protection of defense and industrial facilities in border regions from Ukrainian strikes