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Stridsvagn 122

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Stridsvagn 122 (strv 122, IPA: [ˈstrɪ̂tːsvaŋn] ⓘ)[a] is a Swedish main battle tank that, like the German Leopard 2A5, is based on the German Leopard 2 Improved variant utilizing such newer technology as command, control, and fire-control systems, reinforced armour, and long-term combat capacity. Externally, the vehicle is distinguished from the Leopard 2A5 by the French GALIX smoke dispensers, different storage bins, and the thicker crew hatches.[4]

Stridsvagn 122
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originSweden and Germany[1]
Service history
In service1997–present[2]
Used by
Wars
Production history
ManufacturerKrauss-Maffei Wegmann: 29 chassis[1]
Land Systems Hägglunds AB: 91 chassis[1]
Unit costUS$5.74 million (FY 1994)
(~$11.9 million FY 2023)
Produced1994–2002
No. built120
VariantsStrv 122A (110 chassis)
Strv 122B (10 chassis)
Specifications
Mass62.5 tonnes (61.5 long tons; 68.9 short tons)[2][3]
Length9.97 m (32 ft 9 in) (gun forward)
Width3.75 m (12 ft 4 in)
Height3.0 m (9 ft 10 in)
Crew4
Armour3rd generation composite; including high-hardness steel, tungsten and plastic filler with ceramic component.
Main
armament
1 x 120 mm Rheinmetall L44 smoothbore tank gun
42 rounds
Secondary
armament
2 x 7.62×51mm NATO Ksp m/94 machine gun
4,750 rounds
4 x 2 GALIX smoke grenade launchers[3]
EngineMTU MB 873 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V-12 Twin-turbo diesel engine
1,500 PS (1,479 hp, 1,103 kW) at 2,600 rpm
Power/weight24.19 PS/t (17.79 kW/t)
TransmissionRenk HSWL 354
SuspensionTorsion-bar suspension
Ground clearance540 mm
Fuel capacity1,200 liters (317 US gallons; 264 imp. gal)
Operational
range
550 km (340 mi) (internal fuel)[2][3]
Maximum speed 68 km/h (42 mph)[2][3]
Stridsvagn 122 during an urban warfare exercise, 2006

Development

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After the strv 2000 project for a new Swedish main battle tank was cancelled,[5] the Swedish government decided in 1991 that a foreign main battle tank was to be procured to replace the Strv 101, 102, 103 and 104 in service at the time. During the project "Strv Ny", three tank models were sent to Sweden to participate in trials: the American M1A2 Abrams, the German Leopard 2 Improved, and a prototype variant of the French Leclerc.

 
Strv 121 with applied Barracuda IR-dampening camo net

The trials concluded with the Leopard 2 approved as the winner and the M1A2 in second place. The shortcomings of the Leclerc were partly attributed to it still being in the development phase and not yet mature for service. In 1994 the Swedish government decided to acquire 120 new production tanks and 160 older Leopard 2A4s as a stopgap before the newer tanks were finished. The Leopard 2A4 in Swedish service became designated strv 121 while the new production became the strv 122. Of the 120 strv 122, 29 were manufactured by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann while the other 91 were manufactured by Bofors and Hägglunds.[6]

Features

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The Leopard PT A's width of 3.75 meters[3] was maintained and the weight increased by 350 kilograms (770 lb).[7]

The strv 122 was designed to fight in Swedish conditions including heavily forested areas as well as urban terrain. The designation derives from the 12 cm gun; it was the second tank in Swedish service featuring this calibre (the first being the strv 121 — a Leopard 2A4 fitted with Swedish lights and radios and painted in Swedish camouflage). The Swedish strv 122 features:[8]

  • Heavily reinforced armour to protect against man-portable anti-tank weapons.
  • An advanced CBRN defence system for protection against chemical, biological, and radioactive weapons.
  • Wading capability to pass through water up to 1.4 meters deep.
  • Quick ability to discover, identify, and lock-on a target with the assistance of a laser rangefinder, thermographic camera, and a speed/distance/accuracy calculator for maximum accuracy.
  • Ability to lock-on to numerous targets at once, enabling the tank to fight numerous enemy vehicles without having to manually re-aim the gun after every shot.
  • Active communication for improved cooperation between units.
  • Tank Command & Control System (TCCS) by Celsius Tech Systems AB.[3]

Production and service

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Only 42 strv 122 tanks were in active service as of 2013,[9] with each tank being rotated with those kept in storage to minimise wear. They were divided between three companies, two under the Skaraborg Regiment, P 4 at Skövde and one under Norrbottens Regiment, I 19 at Boden.[10] In August the same year, the Swedish government announced that it would be upgrading its strv 122 tanks to extend their operational lifespan to 2030. Initial reports stated that 56 tanks were set to be upgraded but this figure was revised to 42 later on.[11][12] In 2016, upgrades for 88 tanks were ordered. The tanks would receive a tactical battalion command system from SAAB (Stridsledningssystem Bataljon), a new observation/gun sight (TIM) for the commander, and new communication systems for international missions. A modular 360° ballistic protection system had been planned but not implemented.

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann was contracted to do the upgrades for 46 tanks, while the remainder were handled by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) with upgrade kits procured from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. Planned delivery between 2018 and 2023.[13][14][15][16]

In 2015, the Swedish government decided that an additional tank company should be established on the island of Gotland. This company was to be trained at P 4 and transferred to the re-established Gotland Regiment, P 18 in 2019.[17][18]

On 24 February 2023 the Swedish government announced that it would send 10 strv 122A to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[19]

Strv 123A

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In October 2023 the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) announced that a total of 44 strv 122 will be upgraded to the strv 123A standard. Modifications include the more powerful L/55 gun, new tracks, improved optics for the commander and gunner, and a night sight for the driver. Most of the electronics will also be replaced which will bring the tanks closer in line with more modern Leopard 2 variants. The first strv 123A tank is to be delivered in 2026.[20][21]

The contract also includes the option of modernising all of the Swedish army's strv 122 main battle tanks.[22]

Variants

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  • strv 122A – Baseline variant. Entered service in 1997.[15]
  • strv 122B – Variant with improved mine protection; 10 were upgraded from existing strv 122A models in 2002.[15]
  • strv 122B Int. – Variant for international deployments in warmer climates with NATO-compatible command and control systems as well as infrared signature damping Barracuda camouflage nets; four were converted from strv 122A models in 2011[15][23]
  • strv 122C – Renovated strv 122A with updated command and control systems by FMV's FSV Mv division and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.[15]
  • strv 122D – Renovated strv 122B with updated command and control systems by FMV's FSV Mv division and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.[15]
  • strv 122B+ Evolution – Prototype made by IBD and Åkers Krutbruk Protection AB in 2010. Increased protection levels using more advanced composite materials.[24]
  • strv 123A – Upgraded variant with L/55 gun, programmable ammunition, new driver's night sight and improved optics. First delivery expected in 2026.[21]

Operational history

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On 24 September 2023, during the Zaporizhzhia counteroffensive in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, two Ukrainian Strv 122 tanks were lost in combat.[25] However, one of them was recovered shortly after, repaired, and later inspected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[26]

On 30 October 2023, a strv 122 tank was knocked out by a Russian heavy anti-tank missile. The four crew of the tank were reported to have been seen escaping.[27]

According to the Oryx blog as 19 September 2024, seven out of ten strv 122, had been destroyed, damaged, or abandoned during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[28][29]

Comparison with other main battle tanks

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Comparison of some main battle tanks of the same generation
strv 122
  		M1A2
  		T-90
  		Leopard 2A5
  		Challenger 2
 
Unit cost US$5.74 million (second-hand, FY 2007)[30] US$6.21 million (domestic cost, FY 1999)[31] US$4.25 million (export cost, FY 2011)[32] US$6.86 million (domestic cost, FY 1999)[33] US$6.53 million (domestic cost, FY 1999)[34]
Weight 62.5 t[2][3] 63.09 t[35] 46 t[36] 62.3 t[37] 74.9 t[38]
Length 9.97 meters[39] 9.77 meters[35] 9.63 meters[36] 9.97 meters[37] 11.50 meters[38]
Width 3.75 meters[39] 3.7 meters[35] 3.78 meters[36] 3.75 meters[37] 3.5 meters[38]
Height 3 meters[39] 2.4 meters[35] 2.22 meters[36] 3 meters[37] 2.49 meters[38]
Crew 4[39] 4[35] 3[36] 4[37] 4[38]
Armor 3rd generation composite[39] Depleted Uranium composite[35] Composite/reactive[36] 3rd generation composite[37] Dorchester Level 2 (classified)[38]
Main armament 1x 120 mm Rheinmetall L/44 smoothbore gun[39] 1x M256 120 mm L/44 smoothbore gun[35] 1x 125 mm L/48 smoothbore gun[36] 1x 120 mm Rheinmetall L/44 smoothbore gun[37] 1x 120 mm L30 L/55 rifled gun[38]
Main ammunition 42 rounds[39] 42 rounds[35] 42 rounds[36] 42 rounds[37] 50 rounds[38]
Secondary armament 2x 7.62mm machine guns[39] 1x 12.7mm heavy machine gun
2x 7.62mm machine guns[35] 		1x 12.7mm heavy machine gun
1x 7.62mm machine gun[36] 		2x 7.62mm machine guns[37] Coaxial 7.62×51mm L94A1 EX-34 (chain gun),
7.62×51mm L7A2 (GPMG) Loader's Pintle Mounted Machine Gun[38]
Secondary ammunition 4,750 rounds[39] 900 rounds
10,000 rounds[35] 		7,000 rounds[36] 4,750 rounds[37] 4,000 rounds[40]
Engine power 1,500 hp[39] 1,500 hp[35] 1,000 hp[36] 1,500 hp[37] 1,200 bhp
Power/weight 24.00 hp/t[39] 23.54 hp/t[35] 21.74 hp/t[36] 24.07 hp/t[37] 19.2 hp/t[38]
Suspension Torsion-bar suspension[39] Torsion-bar suspension[35] Torsion-bar suspension[36] Torsion-bar suspension[37] Hydropneumatic[38]
Fuel capacity 1,200 liters[39] 1,900 liters[35] 1,600 liters (with auxiliary drums)[41] 1,200 liters[37] 1,592 liters[38]
Operational range 550 km[2][3] 425 km[35] 550 km[36] 550 km[37] 450 km[38]
Speed 68 km/h[2][3] 68 km/h[35] 65 km/h[36] 72 km/h[37] 59 km/h[38]

Operators

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Current operators

  •   Sweden – 120 units built in Germany and Sweden, 10 were sent to Ukraine.[19] 110 remained in Sweden.[42]
  •   Ukraine – 10 units delivered.[19] 7 destroyed, damaged or captured.[28]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Strv" is the Swedish military abbreviation of stridsvagn, Swedish for chariot and tank (literally combat wagon), while the number "122" comes from the Swedish designation system for tanks, where the two initial numbers, 12, indicates the calibre of the tank’s main gun, 12 cm, and the last number indicates that it is the second tank model with said calibre to enter service with the Swedish military. Note, the Swedish designation "stridsvagn 122" and abbreviation "strv 122" are not "names" canonically and should not be capitalized within a sentence.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Lindström, Rickard O. "Strv 121 & Strv 122". Ointres. SE. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Lindström, Rickard O. & Svantesson, Carl-Gustaf (2009). Svenskt Pansar: 90 år av svensk stridsfordonsutveckling [Swedish Armor: 90 years of Swedish combat vehicle development] (in Swedish). Finland: Bookwell Oy. p. 112. ISBN 978-91-85789-375.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Leopard 2 – Stridsvagn 122 Facts". Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Stridsvagn 122". Försvarets materielverk. 10 February 2005. Archived from the original on 10 February 2005. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Projekt "Stridsvagn 2000"". www.ointres.se. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Projekt "Stridsvagn Ny"". Ointres. SE. Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  7. ^ "New MBT122B Evolution with Unprecedented Protection" (PDF). IBD Deisenroth Engineering. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  8. ^ "Stridsvagn 122". Försvarsmakten (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Strv 122 Tank". Fighting vehicles. 3 December 2016. Archived from the original on 27 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017. 42 Strv 122 remain in active service.
  10. ^ "Stridsvagn 122 (Strv 122) Main Battle Tank (1998)". Military factory. 2011. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  11. ^ "Hälften får stå i förråd". nyteknik.se. 21 August 2013. Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  12. ^ Dahlin, Niklas; Kleja, Monica \ (21 August 2013). "Nu rustas Leopardstridsvagnen". nyteknik.se. Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  13. ^ Hellgren, Magnus. "Stridsvagnssystem". FMV. SE. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  14. ^ "Nu rustas Leopardstridsvagnen". Nyteknik. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Strv 121 / Strv 122". Ointres.se. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Uppföljning av pågående större anskaffningar" (PDF). fmv.se. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  17. ^ Leino, Per (13 December 2017). "Klartecken för Gotlands regemente". Helagotland (in Swedish). SE. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Verksamhet på Gotland". Försvarsmakten (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  19. ^ a b c Regeringen och Regeringskansliet (24 February 2023). "Heavy advanced weapons to Ukraine in new support package". Regeringskansliet. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  20. ^ "FMV tecknar kontrakt om omfattande uppgradering av stridsvagn 122". www.fmv.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Stridsvagn 122 blir stridsvagn 123A". Försvarsmakten. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  22. ^ "KNDS is modernising Sweden's fleet of main battle tanks – KNDS". www.knds.de. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Stridsvagn". SPHF (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  24. ^ Lindström, Richard (2011). "Stridsvagn 122B+ Evolution" (PDF). Ointes.se. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  25. ^ Axe, David. "The Russians Just Knocked Out A Fifth Of The Ukrainians' Best Strv 122 Tanks". Forbes. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  26. ^ Axe, David. "Ukrainian troops recovered one of their damaged Strv 122 tanks in time for the tank to meet the president". Forbes. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  27. ^ Axe, David. "Another Leopard 2 Down! Russia Is Destroying Ukraine's Best Tanks At An Accelerating Rate". Forbes. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  28. ^ a b "Attack on Europe: Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During the Russian Invasion of Ukraine". 21 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  29. ^ Świerkowski, Adam (24 February 2023). "Leopardy i Jastrzębie ze Szwecji dla Ukrainy" [Leopards and Hawks from Sweden for Ukraine]. Defence24.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  30. ^ Foss, p. 116.
  31. ^ Foss, pp. 149–153
  32. ^ "Denial of Defense Procurement MBT T-90 is not connected with the qualitative characteristics of this sample of military equipment – Ministry of Industry of the Russian Federation". Arms-Tass. 17 March 2011. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  33. ^ Foss, p. 114.
  34. ^ Foss, pp. 130–135
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Pike, John (2013). "M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank". Global security.org. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "T-90 Main Battle Tank (MBT) (1995)". MilitaryFactory.com. 2 February 2015. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Genys, Andrius (2014). "Leopard 2A5 Main Battle Tank". Military-today.com. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank (1998)". Militaryfactory.com. 1 August 2014. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Foss, p. 117.
  40. ^ "Combat Vehicles: Challenger 2 main battle tank". British Army. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  41. ^ "T-90 MBT main battle tank technical data pictures video". Army Recognition. 11 January 2024. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  42. ^ "Strv 121 / Strv 122" (in Swedish).

Bibliography

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  • Foss, Christopher F. (2002). Jane's Armour and Artillery. Jane's Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-7106-0964-9.
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