KNDS has showcased the second prototype of its upgraded Leopard 2A-RC 3.0 main battle tank in Germany, as seen in footage from the Militär- und Landtechnik Klaus Schröder YouTube channel.
The prototype, designated PT02, measures 7.95 meters (26 feet) in length, 3.73 meters (12.24 feet) in width, and 2.4 meters (7.87 feet) in height, extending to 11.17 meters (36.65 feet) with the gun and 2.84 meters (9.32 feet) with the periscope.
It also boasts a ground clearance of 0.5 meters (1.64 feet), making it capable of navigating uneven terrain and battlefield obstacles with ease.
Powered by a 1,500-horsepower engine, the tank can reach a top speed of 65 kilometers per hour (40 miles per hour) and travel up to 460 kilometers (286 miles).
A major leap from earlier Leopard variants is its unmanned turret, paired with new lightweight materials to bring its combat weight below 60 tons, boosting mobility without compromising protection or firepower.
Its 120mm smoothbore gun, fed by a bustle-mounted autoloader, delivers up to 18 rounds per minute and is designed to accommodate future 130mm or 140mm upgrades.
Supplementing its main armament are a 30mm remote weapon station, a Spike long-range anti-tank missile module, and an integrated unmanned aerial vehicle, extending both its strike reach and target flexibility.
Reworking the Leopard’s Core
Inside the prototype PT02, three crew members — commander, driver, and gunner — work from within the armored hull, with two taking positions that once sat inside the manned turret.
It’s a break from designs like Russia’s T-14 Armata, America’s Abrams X, and most other unmanned turret concepts.
The result: a lower, more compact turret that is harder to spot on sensors, paired with a hull layout that gives crews better odds if the turret takes a hit.
Protection comes in layers, featuring the Israeli Trophy active protection system backed by explosive reactive armor on the front and sides.
KNDS built the PT02 with swap-friendly components, from interchangeable main guns to scalable armor packages, aiming to keep the Leopard adaptable as the demands of armored warfare evolve.
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