Russian arms giant exposes German armor's weaknesses
Leading Russian defense manufacturer Rostec has exposed apparent flaws in the German Leopard 2A6 main battle tank, describing it as ill-suited to modern warfare.
The state-owned defense conglomerate based its assessment on an analysis of a Leopard 2A6 tank captured from Ukrainian forces. Engineers found weaknesses in the tank's armor and internal structure, according to a company statement on Monday.
'The survivability of the tank may be insufficient in modern warfare, for example, amid attacks from various directions with drones and modern man-portable missiles armed with high-explosive anti-tank charges,' Rostec said. The tank's defenses are configured to counter 'classical' anti-tank weapons more common in past decades, the company added.
Rostec pointed to several battlefield incidents during the Ukraine conflict in which German-made tanks were defeated, including a recent example publicized by the Russian Defense Ministry showing drone strikes against a Leopard model. It noted that many of the armored vehicles sent to Ukraine by Germany are older Leopard 1 variants, which it described as 'largely inefficient.'
By contrast, the company said Russian tanks deployed in the conflict have been upgraded to withstand drone attacks and advanced anti-tank missiles. Rostec cited cases where Russian tanks continued to operate after taking multiple hits.
In April, German media reported that some weapon systems sent to Ukraine have performed poorly. The conclusion was based on remarks by a deputy military attaché in Berlin's embassy in Kiev, who reportedly detailed Ukrainian complaints to Bundeswehr officials in January. The official was said to have described the Leopard 2A6 as expensive to maintain and nearly impossible to repair on the battlefield.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to increase military spending with the goal of making the Bundeswehr 'the strongest conventional army in Europe.' The new government plans to increase defense funding from the current level of around 2% of GDP to 3%.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
42 minutes ago
- Russia Today
Putin calls on Russia's partners to discuss new global model of growth
Russia is calling on its partners to take part in shaping a new global growth model aimed at ensuring stable development worldwide, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday. Speaking at the main plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), he stressed the need to create a fair and open platform for global progress. 'Russia invites its partners to contribute to the formation of a new global growth model that will ensure the prosperity of our countries and the stable development of the entire world for many, many years to come,' Putin said. 'To that end, we held an Open Dialogue in Moscow this year, titled 'The Future of the World: A New Platform for Global Growth', which brought together representatives from over a hundred countries. We intend not only to make this format a regular occurrence but also to build an entire ecosystem around it for discussing, developing, and implementing breakthrough ideas.' Putin noted that the challenges facing the modern world undoubtedly require a collective response. He argued that it is impossible to solve such problems alone, especially at the expense of others. Only joint efforts through organizations like BRICS and other international platforms can ensure the advancement of global civilization, he concluded. The Open Dialogue, held in April at the RUSSIA National Center, welcomed more than 100 guests from 48 countries. Participants explored the future through four main themes: 'Investments in Human Capital', 'Investments in Technology', 'Investments in the Environment', and 'Investments in Communication'. Summing up the outcome of the Open Dialogue during one of the SPIEF sessions, Maksim Oreshkin, deputy head of President Putin's administration, noted that the initiative had received broad international attention. 'It is through such an Open Dialogue that our future, and our understanding of that future, is being shaped,' Oreshkin said.
Russia Today
an hour ago
- Russia Today
EU to gamble with Russia's frozen assets
The European Union is looking to channel billions of euros in profits from frozen Russian assets into 'riskier investments' to boost funding for Ukraine, Politico has reported, citing sources. Officials reportedly view the move as a way to generate higher returns without directly tapping into the sovereign funds themselves, which would be in breach of international law. The proposal is part of a broader EU initiative to use profits from immobilized Russian assets – primarily Western government bonds held by the Brussels-based clearing house Euroclear – to support Ukraine's war effort. Moscow has labeled the seizure of its assets as 'theft.' Western nations froze an estimated $300 billion in Russian sovereign funds following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022. Of that amount, more than $200 billion is held by Euroclear. The funds have generated billions in interest, with €1.55 billion ($1.78 billion) transferred to Kiev last July to back a $50 billion G7 the new plan, the assets would be placed into an EU-managed investment fund that could pursue higher-yield strategies, officials told Politico on Thursday. The goal is to increase returns without resorting to outright confiscation – a step opposed by countries such as Germany and Italy due to the potential legal and financial consequences. The EU's $21 billion contribution to the G7 loan is expected to be fully disbursed by the end of this year. With future US aid uncertain and the bloc's own budget under pressure, officials are exploring alternative ways to keep Ukraine's economy afloat beyond 2025, Politico reported. EU policymakers hope the plan will allow them to extract more revenue from the assets without violating international legal norms. The International Monetary Fund has warned that outright seizure could damage global trust in Western financial institutions. Talks among member states over confiscation have dragged on for more than three years without resolution. Brussels also reportedly sees the new investment structure as a safeguard in case Hungary vetoes the renewal of sanctions – a move that could result in the assets being returned to Russia. EU sanctions must be unanimously extended every six months, and Budapest has repeatedly threatened to block them, citing national interests. Critics caution that riskier investments could result in losses ultimately borne by EU taxpayers, the outlet has condemned the asset freeze and has threatened countermeasures, including legal action.
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Russia Today
EU nation to keep Russian oil and gas flowing
Hungary has received assurances from Russia that deliveries of oil and gas under long-term contracts will continue despite efforts by the EU and Ukraine to disrupt them, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Thursday at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025). Hungary has opposed EU sanctions on Russian energy since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, saying the imports are vital to national interests. The country has a long-term contract with Gazprom and receives the bulk of its oil and gas from Russia. Gas is mainly delivered via the Turkish Stream pipeline through Bulgaria and Serbia. Budapest is also working with Russia's Rosatom to expand the Paks Nuclear Power Plant. The foreign minister was commenting on a proposal by the European Commission that would ban imports of Russian gas, including LNG, to the EU starting January 1, 2026. For landlocked countries such as Hungary, the cutoff would apply from early 2028. According to Szijjarto, the heads of Russia's largest energy firms have signaled that they are ready to continue supplying Hungary with low-cost natural gas and crude oil despite challenges and restrictions. 'Agreed with Russian officials & energy company leaders to maintain our cooperation, despite efforts by Brussels & [Kiev] to undermine it,' Szijjarto wrote on X. He made the statement after meetings with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak, Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller, and Rosatom Director General Aleksey Likhachyov. Szijjarto said oil deliveries are ongoing, gas flows continue through the TurkStream pipeline, and the expansion of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant – known as Paks II – is progressing. 'We won't let Brussels force [Hungarian] families to pay 2-4x more for energy,' he added. His remarks come as the European Commission has proposed ending all remaining Russian gas imports to the EU by the end of 2027. Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen presented the plan on Tuesday, following approval from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It includes a ban on new Russian gas contracts starting in 2026 and a full phaseout the following year. The proposal faces opposition from Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, and reportedly from Italy. It is expected to be introduced as trade legislation, which would not require unanimous approval from all EU member states. Szijjarto has called the plan 'absolute insanity,' warning it could cause fuel price hikes and undermine national sovereignty. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has vowed to block the move.
