Leopard 2 Tank

Context: Germany has not decided whether to allow its Leopard 2 tanks to be sent to Ukraine which can be used against Russia during the ongoing war between the two countries.

About Leopard 2 Tank:

• It is a German made main battle tank.
• Developed by German weapons manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW).
• Leopard was first produced in the late 1990s for the West German army in response to Soviet threats during the Cold War.
• The Leopard 2 is one of the world’s leading battle tanks, used by the German Army for decades and by the militaries of more than a dozen other European nations, as well as by the armies of countries as far apart as Canada and Indonesia.
• It has seen service in conflicts in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Syria.
• Other Features:
  • These tanks are armed with a 120mm smoothbore cannon.
  • It is also armed with two coaxial light machine guns.
  • They also provide “all-round protection” for troops from threats such as mines, anti-tank fire, and improvised explosive devices

Source: Indian Express

Previous Year Question

Q.1) What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news? (2018)

1. An Israeli radar system
2. India’s indigenous anti-missile programme
3. An American anti-missile system
4. A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea