The Lumpy Lobster
Leopard 2A4VIN SPEAR
Pictured above is a Leopard 2A4 fitted with the Vinland Defense Corporation's SPEAR upgrade kit. The SPEAR kit includes modular composite armor modules for the front and flanks of the vehicle hull, an RPG-cage over the rear flank, increased front and flank turret armor, an advanced electronics suite, hard and soft-kill active protection system, and a remote weapon station for the commander.
The Leopard 2A4 has become a staple MBT for many militaries around the world. It has seen combat across a myriad of combat theaters, and been modified to perform a variety of combat and noncombat roles. Due to the platform's versatility and robustness, VDC chose to use the Leopard 2A4 as the base model for it's SPEAR kit, with the intention of maintaining a fleet of SPEAR-upgraded 2A4's for peacekeeping and peacemaking contract operations. Currently 4 Leopard 2A4's have been upgraded with VDC's SPEAR kit, with more under contract to be built.
The primary goal of VDC's SPEAR kit was to enhance existing capability levels of the Leopard 2A4 from third generation/third generation advanced, to that on par with fourth generation main battle tanks. This has been accomplished by introducing modular composite armor in addition to an active protection system to neutralize guided projectiles. Independent testing done on the SPEAR kit has shown a 42% increase in RHA protection levels across the hull front and flanks, and a 38% increase in RHA levels across the turret front, significantly improving the tank's survivability.
The CROWN active protection system utilizes stacked projectiles mounted in launchers around the vehicle to combat incoming ATGMS and RPGs. Similar to the MetalStorm system, CROWN launchers electrically fire stacked projectiles in a shotgun-like dispersion to deny incoming rockets and missiles access to the vehicle.
In addition to the commander's independent sight, the commander also has access to a remote weapon station located on the rear of the vehicle turret. In the event of a failure of the independent sight, the commander can use the RWS as a targeting and designation sight. The commander also has access to override the gunner's controls to slave the barrel on target to either the independent sight or the RWS's sights.
The SPEAR kit includes an overhauled electronics suite that includes various radios, signal jammers, IFF beacons, a Blue Force Tracker terminal, 360 degree external camera suite, computer-assisted fire control system, and battle management suite for assessing system readiness.
Although existing Leopard 2A4's already carry an NBC filter, VDC chose to replace this filter with an advanced overpressure system that also has air conditioning capabilities for the crew when the tank is buttoned up. Crews are still advised to wear personal cooling garments for when the vehicle hatches are open, however, the option for air conditioning is now available.
The L44 120mm main gun has been retained for now, although VDC has begun trials of alternate armaments to combat increased armored threats. The SPEAR kit moves the placement of the coaxial 7.62mm machine gun to above the barrel to make room for an additional coaxial weapon; a 20mm autocannon with a cyclic rate of 400 rounds per minute. Reports from VDC armored crews operating legacy Leopard 2A4's noted a lack of armaments that addressed intermediate threats such as lightly armored vehicles, and the threat of urban operations. With the threat of asymmetrical warfare growing, VDC chose to include a 20mm autocannon for addressing these intermediate threats that could resist medium machine gun fire, but don't necessitate the use of the main gun. The remote weapon station typically is fitted with a 12.7mm machine gun, although the mount is capable of accepting other weapon systems. 45 rounds of 120mm ammunition are carried, along with 420 rounds of 20mm, 500 rounds of 12.7mm, and 2,000 rounds of 7.62mm.
Well, here she is! I've been working on this one for a long while now, and I'm finally at a point of calling it "done." I really liked the way this has turned out, and I think this may take the cake for my favorite model I've made before, so woo! The cabinet doors will be flipped and attached to the 1x2 grille tiles underneath when I get around to building this, so they're just floating there on the model right now (which is funny because I actually really like the cabinet doors facing out instead of in). As I mentioned on my Leo 2A4 post, many of the nitpicks/inaccuracies of the base model are mitigated or hidden with this upgrade kit over it, such as the offset main gun, wonky side skirts, and blocky front glacis (probably the part of the build I'm least satisfied with as far as accuracy's sake.) Regarding the glacis, my excuse is that the lower glacis is sloped, but covered by a wedge of modular armor that increases overall protection, but negates the sloping effect of the original armor. RWS is not my design, and IIRC is Andrew Somers.'
Leopard 2A4VIN SPEAR
Pictured above is a Leopard 2A4 fitted with the Vinland Defense Corporation's SPEAR upgrade kit. The SPEAR kit includes modular composite armor modules for the front and flanks of the vehicle hull, an RPG-cage over the rear flank, increased front and flank turret armor, an advanced electronics suite, hard and soft-kill active protection system, and a remote weapon station for the commander.
The Leopard 2A4 has become a staple MBT for many militaries around the world. It has seen combat across a myriad of combat theaters, and been modified to perform a variety of combat and noncombat roles. Due to the platform's versatility and robustness, VDC chose to use the Leopard 2A4 as the base model for it's SPEAR kit, with the intention of maintaining a fleet of SPEAR-upgraded 2A4's for peacekeeping and peacemaking contract operations. Currently 4 Leopard 2A4's have been upgraded with VDC's SPEAR kit, with more under contract to be built.
The primary goal of VDC's SPEAR kit was to enhance existing capability levels of the Leopard 2A4 from third generation/third generation advanced, to that on par with fourth generation main battle tanks. This has been accomplished by introducing modular composite armor in addition to an active protection system to neutralize guided projectiles. Independent testing done on the SPEAR kit has shown a 42% increase in RHA protection levels across the hull front and flanks, and a 38% increase in RHA levels across the turret front, significantly improving the tank's survivability.
The CROWN active protection system utilizes stacked projectiles mounted in launchers around the vehicle to combat incoming ATGMS and RPGs. Similar to the MetalStorm system, CROWN launchers electrically fire stacked projectiles in a shotgun-like dispersion to deny incoming rockets and missiles access to the vehicle.
In addition to the commander's independent sight, the commander also has access to a remote weapon station located on the rear of the vehicle turret. In the event of a failure of the independent sight, the commander can use the RWS as a targeting and designation sight. The commander also has access to override the gunner's controls to slave the barrel on target to either the independent sight or the RWS's sights.
The SPEAR kit includes an overhauled electronics suite that includes various radios, signal jammers, IFF beacons, a Blue Force Tracker terminal, 360 degree external camera suite, computer-assisted fire control system, and battle management suite for assessing system readiness.
Although existing Leopard 2A4's already carry an NBC filter, VDC chose to replace this filter with an advanced overpressure system that also has air conditioning capabilities for the crew when the tank is buttoned up. Crews are still advised to wear personal cooling garments for when the vehicle hatches are open, however, the option for air conditioning is now available.
The L44 120mm main gun has been retained for now, although VDC has begun trials of alternate armaments to combat increased armored threats. The SPEAR kit moves the placement of the coaxial 7.62mm machine gun to above the barrel to make room for an additional coaxial weapon; a 20mm autocannon with a cyclic rate of 400 rounds per minute. Reports from VDC armored crews operating legacy Leopard 2A4's noted a lack of armaments that addressed intermediate threats such as lightly armored vehicles, and the threat of urban operations. With the threat of asymmetrical warfare growing, VDC chose to include a 20mm autocannon for addressing these intermediate threats that could resist medium machine gun fire, but don't necessitate the use of the main gun. The remote weapon station typically is fitted with a 12.7mm machine gun, although the mount is capable of accepting other weapon systems. 45 rounds of 120mm ammunition are carried, along with 420 rounds of 20mm, 500 rounds of 12.7mm, and 2,000 rounds of 7.62mm.
Well, here she is! I've been working on this one for a long while now, and I'm finally at a point of calling it "done." I really liked the way this has turned out, and I think this may take the cake for my favorite model I've made before, so woo! The cabinet doors will be flipped and attached to the 1x2 grille tiles underneath when I get around to building this, so they're just floating there on the model right now (which is funny because I actually really like the cabinet doors facing out instead of in). As I mentioned on my Leo 2A4 post, many of the nitpicks/inaccuracies of the base model are mitigated or hidden with this upgrade kit over it, such as the offset main gun, wonky side skirts, and blocky front glacis (probably the part of the build I'm least satisfied with as far as accuracy's sake.) Regarding the glacis, my excuse is that the lower glacis is sloped, but covered by a wedge of modular armor that increases overall protection, but negates the sloping effect of the original armor. RWS is not my design, and IIRC is Andrew Somers.'