Ukraine enhances Leopard 2A4 tanks protection with explosive reactive armour (ERA)

The ERA installation involves the placement of Kontakt-1 ERA containers on the front and side projections of the turret, as well as the sides of the hull of the Leopard tank. However, the additional protection does not extend to the nose of the combat vehicle’s hull.

 

 

 

The mounted ERA blocks primarily shield the armored vehicles from high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) ammunition. In the event of a shaped charge penetrating an ERA element, two protection elements within the housing of each element would detonate. Each ERA element comprises an explosive and a steel cover, which move forward upon detonation, intercepting the trajectory of the shaped charge and dissipating its energy. The collision with the ERA plates destabilizes the jet, reducing the armor penetration capabilities of HEAT ammunition. Consequently, this enhances the defence of armored vehicles against light anti-tank weapons.

Considering the need to safeguard against anti-tank grenade launchers and kamikaze drones, it is likely that reactive armor units will be incorporated into the Leopard 2 tanks, either all or most of them, which have been provided to Ukraine by Western countries.