Russia has developed many weapons development programs methodically. Source: people.com.cn. New weapon development direction Russia launched the first version of the “Russian Weapons Development Program” in 2010 and version 2.0 in 2017. It is planned that version 3.0 will be released by the end of this year. According to Russian media, this program mainly provides follow-up information on the development of weapons and equipment of the Russian army, and is considered a “indicator” for the development of weapons and equipment in the country. . The 2010 version of the “Program” indicates that the Russian military will prioritize the development of nuclear and air defense as well as anti-missile forces, as well as the development of communication command systems and situational awareness. advanced. Under the guidance of this concept, the modernization level of the nuclear forces of the Russian army has been significantly improved, in which the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile regiment has been reorganized, centered The air defense and anti-missile group with the core of the S-400 gradually became the main air defense force. In addition, by 2015 the Russian Army had built a modern command and control system. Version 2.0 of the “Program” revised and supplemented the content of the previous version, proposing to “accelerate the upgrade and transformation of nuclear deterrence” and “ensure that weapons development and equipment of the Russian army in the leading position in the world, and modernization of conventional weapons accounts for more than 70%”. Speaking at a Defense Ministry meeting at the end of 2020, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said that the Russian military-industrial complex has completed more than 97% of the research, development and production tasks in the “Chapter” program”, all the armed services of Russia have basically completed the goal of weapons procurement. The Russian Ministry of Defense is currently conducting research and preparing to launch the official 3.0 “Program” later this year. Russian media revealed that Moscow has focused on cutting-edge technologies and new concept weapons to ensure that it has a dominant position in the high-tech sector. According to reports, Russia is actively preparing a new version of the “Program” and has listed advanced weapons as the focus of development, with the intention of laying a solid foundation for weapons development, respond to increasingly complex security challenges. Weapons of the future In the new version of the “Program”, Russia will continue to promote the development of nuclear and conventional weapons, while focusing on research into artificial intelligence, robotics, hypersonic weapons and weapons. attack based on new physics principles. As of 2020, the modernization rate of the Russian army’s conventional weapons has reached 70.3%, and the modernization of the nuclear forces has reached 86%. According to the plan, the Russian services will continue to promote the modernization of weapons and equipment at a rate of 2% to 3% annually. Currently, in Russia’s hypersonic arsenal, in addition to the Avangard and Kinzhal missiles that have been put into operation, the Poseidon unmanned rolling device and the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile have also entered the test phase. Russia’s “torpedo” Poseidon scared the whole world. Source: people.com.cn. In addition, Russia recently revealed plans to design light vehicles carrying hypersonic munitions, such as glide bombs, and has continuously developed asymmetrical strategic balancing measures. In the next 10 years, heavy drones represented by “Altius” and “Hunter” will become the mainstay of Russia’s aerospace forces. Many new electronic warfare systems will also become the core of Russia. According to Russian military experts, the new “Program” will introduce “plans for the development of weapons and equipment in the complex climate of the Arctic”. Many difficulties await Some analysts believe that the new Russian version of the “Program” is promising, but will face certain difficulties in the implementation process. On the one hand, the modern technology of the Russian army still has shortcomings, which will be difficult to make up for in the long run, on the other hand, the defense budget of the Russian army is decreasing year by year, which is not suitable for the “stability and ongoing financial support” is suggested in the “Program”. In addition, under the technological blockade of the West, Russia is still struggling to research avionics components, liquid crystal displays, stealth materials and large-scale drones. . In fact, many new weapons and equipment, including the T-14 tank and the Su-57 fighter jet, were short on funding, causing the production time to be continuously extended. In addition, due to the influence of the budget and other strategic plans of the Russian military, there have been many adjustments, such as the program to build a new aircraft carrier.

Modernization plan The production of the Challenger 2 main tank began in 1994 and lasted until 2002. The tank was officially commissioned in 1998. Immediately after that, the search for a way to modernize the equipment. of Challenger 2 began to be implemented, but until recently, all the ideas were not developed, for various reasons. However, the basic reason for refusing to modernize the Challenger 2 tank was lack of finance. RBLS introduces the tank model of the Challenger 2 Life Extension Project project in 2019. At the end of 2015, the British Ministry of Defense launched the Challenger Life Extension Project 2 (LEP), to upgrade its existing tank fleet. The project was originally planned to follow a “small” modernization, focusing only on instrumentation. The project was then completed in 2019. However, in 2019, the LEP program was relaunched, with new requirements. Proposals are currently being made for a larger modernization, focusing on weapons systems, power plant complexes, turrets and other structures. In addition, the project also considers modifying the volume and cost of the modernization process. In 2019, the German-British joint venture Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) proposed the Challenger-2 modernization project. In September of the same year, the new experimental tank of the project appeared at an exhibition. Then the necessary tests are carried out, in order to determine the actual characteristics and compare with other competing development projects. As a result, RBSL’s project was recognized as the most successful and recommended for full-scale implementation. On May 7, 2021, the British Ministry of Defense announced the signing of a contract for the project. Some contents of the proposed modernization program have been reported in detail. Accordingly, the project will upgrade the Challenger-2 main tank into the Challenger 3 version. Main tank for the future Between 1994 and 2002, the British Army purchased 386 Challenger-2 tanks and 22 training vehicles. By 2010, the number of equipment in the lineup was reduced to 225 and has remained at that level to this day. According to previous plans, such a main tank force would be maintained until 2035. However, now the plan has been revised, regarding the Challenger 3 project. He started implementing the Challenger 2 Tank Life Extension Project since 2015. In March 2021, a new assessment of defense and security was published, which made a request to reduce the tank fleet. Accordingly, only 148 tanks will be used in the future and will be repaired and modernized. This allows them to remain in service until the 2040s. The remaining 77 vehicles will be retired from service. The new contract between the British Ministry of Defense and RBSL accepts this option and begins implementation. The main work of the Challenger 3 project will be carried out at the RBSL plant in Telford (UK). This project will provide 200 jobs, including 130 vacancies for engineers. Individual units will be provided by other companies, where another 450 jobs will be created. In the coming years, contractors will have to complete the project development and prepare the production line. The first tanks to be upgraded are scheduled to arrive in 2027. The last of 148 main battle tanks will return to service in 2030. The total cost of this modernization project, according to the contract. , would be £800 million (about £5.4 million/tank). The British Ministry of Defense highly appreciates the prospects of the new project. The country’s military expects the Challenger 3 to become a “world-class tank” and “NATO’s deadliest machine”. In addition, new weapons and other modern systems will allow the British Challenger-3 to surpass modern Russian main battle tanks. Comprehensive upgrade RBLS’s Challenger 3 project involves extensive modernization of the existing tank line, with the replacement of most major systems and equipment. As a result, the new tank will enhance mobility, increase protection, firepower and other important stats. In addition, the upgraded tank can function as part of a command combat system, along with a modern control system and easy data exchange. The main changes of the Challenger 3 project. During the upgrade process, the tank shell will receive new modular front armor. Its composition and properties are not specified, but the degree of protection is reported to be significantly increased. To replace the old tower, a new hood was developed with reinforced armor and the volume required to install new equipment. In the future, tanks will also receive active defense complexes. Challenger-3’s weapon system is equipped with a 120mm smoothbore gun Rheinmetall Rh 120 L55A1 manually loaded. Cannons can use a full range of existing and new ammunition for different purposes. In particular, the tank’s ammunition base will include new high-explosive fragmentation ammunition, with a DM11 programmable fuse. Additional weapons will include a remotely controlled machine gun combat module. RBSL intends to carry out a radical overhaul of the fire control system and other equipment on the tank. The lens system, control computer and other components of the tank will be selected new, without using the standard equipment of the Challenger 2. The fire control system will be combined with the associated vehicles. modern communication, providing the exchange of data on the tactical situation. Project outlook The Challenger 2 Life Extension Project (LEP) program has passed its first phase and is entering a new phase. In the coming years, the joint venture Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land and related companies will have to organize new content and kick-start work on a series of equipment modernization. According to the general plan, by 2030, the British army will completely renew its main tank force. Challenger 3 will be the main tank of the British army in the future. Due to a lack of funding, the British army could not afford to maintain a large tank fleet, and currently has only 225 main tanks. The modernization of all these equipment also becomes impossible and about a third of the tanks will have to be decommissioned due to lack of funds to restore. Besides, the increase in the capabilities of upgraded tanks is not only due to the benefit of new equipment and weapons. It is also based on the objective limitations and shortcomings of existing tanks. Accordingly, the Challenger-2 has not undergone a major upgrade and its characteristics remain at the level of the late 1990s. This fact led to the need to develop an entirely new combat unit. However, from a technical point of view, experts say that Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land’s Challenger 3 project seems quite successful. The proposed solutions are indeed capable of improving the technical characteristics and increasing the combat capabilities of existing tanks. In addition, all the necessary capabilities of a modern main tank are provided.

According to experts, Kazan is a fully domestically built submarine and is superior to foreign nuclear-powered ships in terms of technical characteristics. In the future, submarines can receive the modern Zircon hypersonic missile complex. Technically completely new project In recent years, the Kazan nuclear submarine has passed tests in the White Sea, and achieved the published technical indicators. In particular, the crew conducted submarine warfare tests at positions on the water surface and underwater, measured technical parameters, in which the noise level when moving underwater and the attack weapon system. . The Kazan nuclear submarine officially entered service with the Russian Navy. The Kazan nuclear submarine was built in 2009, but the time of delivery to the Russian Navy has been delayed several times. In response to RT.ru, Editor-in-Chief of the Defense Journal Igor Korotchenko explained that the delay was due to the need to test a large number of new technical solutions integrated into the project 885M nuclear submarine. According to experts, the construction and testing of a lead submarine of an improved or new project is always a long process and goes through many complicated stages. In addition, for the domestic shipbuilding industry and the Russian Ministry of Defense, the improvement of nuclear-powered submarines is to a state that allows the performance of effective combat missions on a large scale of the oceans. Positive is an urgent priority today. Meanwhile, the founder of the Russian military information site Dmitry Kornev said that delaying the commissioning of the Kazan submarine is completely reasonable. He explained the difficulties caused by a large amount of research and development work, along with the establishment of a large-scale industrial co-production system. “The Yasen-class nuclear submarine is a completely new and technically challenging project for our industry. The real partnership mechanism was created from the very beginning, with hundreds of businesses from many different industries. It took a lot of time to find contractors and fine-tune the delivery mechanism. Russia has also abandoned the use of imported components,” said expert Kornev. 4th generation nuclear submarine Kazan is a lead nuclear submarine of the fourth generation of project 885M (Yasen class), developed by the Malakhit Marine Design Bureau (Saint Petersburg). The construction of this nuclear submarine is carried out at the facilities of JSC PO Sevmash (Severodvinsk). The Kazan Multi-Purpose Nuclear Submarine is designed to destroy enemy surface ships, submarines, transport vehicles and ground targets. The submarine is equipped with eight vertical launch tubes, salvo-type launchers for Kalibr and Onyx high-precision cruise missiles, with ranges of up to 1,500 and 300 km. The Kazan nuclear submarine was developed by the Malakhit Marine Design Bureau. According to the developer, these weapons can engage highly protected, grouped targets, including those equipped with anti-missile defense systems. In addition, the attack weapon of the project 885/885M nuclear submarine is also equipped with 30 533 mm caliber torpedoes. The main operational characteristics of the Kazan and Yasen-class ships have not yet been revealed. However, according to experts, this modernized nuclear submarine is similar to the Project 885 Severodvinsk submarine, which entered service with the Northern Fleet in June 2014 in weight, size, and weapons. work, construction characteristics and speed. Analysts say the difference is mainly related to onboard equipment, including electronics and sonar equipment. The length of the Yasen-class submarine is about 139 m, the width is about 13 m, the draft is 10 m, the displacement is about 8,600 tons, underwater up to 13,800 tons. The ship is capable of independent operation for 100 days. The multi-purpose submarine can dive to a depth of 600 m and reach a speed of 57.4 km / h underwater. According to a report by the Malakhit Maritime Design Bureau, this project 885 nuclear submarine has a mixed architecture and structure with a sturdy double-hull structure, made of high-strength steel. Expert Dmitry Kornev explained that the engineers of the Malakhit Marine Design Bureau considered a two-hull scheme for the production of nuclear submarines. The two-body scheme is resistant to mechanical damage, but is more expensive and has a relatively high noise level. Accordingly, a reasonable solution was found at Yasen when the two hulls together covered the bow of the submarine and the structural elements near the launch pad, i.e. the parts that bear the greatest load. The hull of project 885/885M is divided by strong bulkheads into 8 compartments, including: main bridge, torpedo compartment, living quarters, electromechanical, missile, reactor, turbine and auxiliary compartment. aid. “To create optimal conditions for the operation of the hydroacoustic complex, the torpedo tubes were removed from the bow and placed at an angle to the center plane. A large diameter GAK (hydroacoustic complex) spherical antenna is located at the end of the bow,” the Malakhit Maritime Design Bureau report states. The quality of the sonar equipment plays an extremely important role in the performance of the assigned tasks of nuclear submarines in the vast range of the ocean. Yesen submarine hydroacoustic complex system is used to detect enemies, classify targets, find interference direction, measure ice thickness, detect mines and torpedoes, search for ice holes to fly up and launch. safe rocket. Also according to the developer, the main power unit of the project 885/885M nuclear submarines belongs to the new generation. It consists of a pressurized water reactor and a modular single-shaft steam turbine unit, with various mechanisms and redundancies, capable of reducing the acoustic parameters of the submarine. Another technical innovation in Yasen-class submarines is a rescue chamber designed to evacuate the entire crew. This equipment is improved by domestic experts, taking into account the experience of domestic and foreign submarine accidents and incidents. The main nuclear submarine of the Russian Navy According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the project 885M submarines “will become an important part of the offensive power” of the Russian Navy and will be able to effectively operate as part of a strike group at any distance. any way compared to the base points. The crew of the project 885M Kazan nuclear submarine. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense. “In the Yasen-M class nuclear submarine project, a number of technical solutions were used that were not previously used in domestic submarine construction. The basic components of the electronic weapon complexes, modernized equipment and rescue systems are exclusively Russian products,” the Russian military agency said. In the immediate future, the nuclear-powered submarines of Project 885M will become the main multi-purpose nuclear submarine of the Russian Navy. Currently, seven such submarines are under construction, including Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Arkhangelsk, Perm, Ulyanovsk, Voronezh and Vladivostok. Experts expect that the construction and testing of these submarines will not take much time, as the verification of technical solutions and the building of cooperative relationships have been successfully completed during construction. Kazan nuclear submarine. “The official transfer of Kazan to the navy allows us to conclude that the main difficulties for the implementation of the plans for the Yasen-M project have been overcome. This is a modern, fully Russian nuclear submarine. It is superior to all existing nuclear submarines abroad in terms of overall capabilities”, emphasized expert Kornev. This expert believes that putting project 885M submarines into service will significantly improve the combat capabilities of the Russian Navy. Accordingly, in the future the Yasen-M nuclear submarine will receive Zircon hypersonic missiles in its arsenal. Currently, this weapon is still being tested. Expert Igor Korotchenko said that the appearance of nuclear-powered ships of project 885M will increase the offensive and defensive capabilities of the Russian Navy. Yasen-class submarines will significantly strengthen the position of the Russian Navy, allowing a more efficient and high-quality implementation of the assigned tasks. “With the introduction of new nuclear submarines, the Russian Navy will receive a significant increase in submarine nuclear deterrence,” concluded Korotchenko.

Modernization plan The production of the Challenger 2 main tank began in 1994 and lasted until 2002. The tank was officially commissioned in 1998. Immediately after that, the search for a way to modernize the equipment. of Challenger 2 began to be implemented, but until recently, all the ideas were not developed, for various reasons. However, the basic reason for refusing to modernize the Challenger 2 tank was lack of finance. RBLS introduces the tank model of the Challenger 2 Life Extension Project project in 2019. At the end of 2015, the British Ministry of Defense launched the Challenger Life Extension Project 2 (LEP), to upgrade its existing tank fleet. The project was originally planned to follow a “small” modernization, focusing only on instrumentation. The project was then completed in 2019. However, in 2019, the LEP program was relaunched, with new requirements. Proposals are currently being made for a larger modernization, focusing on weapons systems, power plant complexes, turrets and other structures. In addition, the project also considers modifying the volume and cost of the modernization process. In 2019, the German-British joint venture Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) proposed the Challenger-2 modernization project. In September of the same year, the new experimental tank of the project appeared at an exhibition. Then the necessary tests are carried out, in order to determine the actual characteristics and compare with other competing development projects. As a result, RBSL’s project was recognized as the most successful and recommended for full-scale implementation. On May 7, 2021, the British Ministry of Defense announced the signing of a contract for the project. Some contents of the proposed modernization program have been reported in detail. Accordingly, the project will upgrade the Challenger-2 main tank into the Challenger 3 version. Main tank for the future Between 1994 and 2002, the British Army purchased 386 Challenger-2 tanks and 22 training vehicles. By 2010, the number of equipment in the lineup was reduced to 225 and has remained at that level to this day. According to previous plans, such a main tank force would be maintained until 2035. However, now the plan has been revised, regarding the Challenger 3 project. He started implementing the Challenger 2 Tank Life Extension Project since 2015. In March 2021, a new assessment of defense and security was published, which included a request to reduce the tank fleet. Accordingly, only 148 tanks will be used in the future and will be repaired and modernized. This allows them to remain in service until the 2040s. The remaining 77 vehicles will be retired from service. The new contract between the British Ministry of Defense and RBSL accepts this option and begins implementation. The main work of the Challenger 3 project will be carried out at the RBSL plant in Telford (UK). This project will provide 200 jobs, including 130 vacancies for engineers. Individual units will be provided by other companies, where another 450 jobs will be created. In the coming years, contractors will have to complete the project development and prepare the production line. The first tanks to be upgraded are scheduled to arrive in 2027. The last of 148 main battle tanks will return to service in 2030. The total cost of this modernization project, according to the contract. , would be £800 million (about £5.4 million/tank). The British Ministry of Defense highly appreciates the prospects of the new project. The country’s military expects the Challenger 3 to become a “world-class tank” and “NATO’s deadliest machine”. In addition, new weapons and other modern systems will allow the British Challenger-3 to surpass modern Russian main battle tanks. Comprehensive upgrade RBLS’s Challenger 3 project involves extensive modernization of the existing tank line, with the replacement of most major systems and equipment. As a result, the new tank will enhance mobility, increase protection, firepower and other important stats. In addition, the upgraded tank can function as part of a command combat system, along with a modern control system and easy data exchange. The main changes of the Challenger 3 project. During the upgrade process, the tank shell will receive new modular front armor. Its composition and properties are not specified, but the degree of protection is reported to be significantly increased. To replace the old tower, a new hood was developed with reinforced armor and the volume required to install new equipment. In the future, tanks will also receive active defense complexes. Challenger-3’s weapon system is equipped with a 120mm smoothbore gun Rheinmetall Rh 120 L55A1 manually loaded. Cannons can use a full range of existing and new ammunition for different purposes. In particular, the tank’s ammunition base will include new high-explosive fragmentation ammunition, with a DM11 programmable fuse. Additional weapons will include a remotely controlled machine gun combat module. RBSL intends to carry out a radical overhaul of the fire control system and other equipment on the tank. The lens system, control computer and other components of the tank will be selected new, without using the standard equipment of the Challenger 2. The fire control system will be combined with the associated vehicles. modern communication, providing the exchange of data on the tactical situation. Project outlook The Challenger 2 Life Extension Project (LEP) program has passed its first phase and is entering a new phase. In the coming years, the joint venture Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land and related companies will have to organize new content and kick-start work on a series of equipment modernization. According to the general plan, by 2030, the British army will completely renew its main tank force. Challenger 3 will be the main tank of the British army in the future. Due to a lack of funding, the British army could not afford to maintain a large tank fleet, and currently has only 225 main tanks. The modernization of all these equipment also becomes impossible and about a third of the tanks will have to be decommissioned due to lack of funds to restore. Besides, the increase in the capabilities of the upgraded tank is not only due to the benefit of new equipment and weapons. It is also based on the objective limitations and shortcomings of existing tanks. Accordingly, the Challenger-2 has not undergone a major upgrade and its characteristics are still at the level of the late 1990s. This fact led to the urgent need to develop a completely new combat unit. However, from a technical point of view, experts say that Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land’s Challenger 3 project seems quite successful. The proposed solutions are indeed capable of improving the technical characteristics and increasing the combat capabilities of existing tanks. In addition, all the necessary capabilities of a modern main tank are provided.

However, this MBT, right from the signing of the purchase contract, has continuously encountered problems, the first is the translation of technical documents discovered by a third party with a salary of up to 200 million Zloty (equivalent to VND 200 million). $2.6 million), an “exorbitant” price. But the overhead is nothing compared to the money these Leopard 2PLs have taken from the Polish defense budget. It should be recalled that in 2002, Warsaw signed a contract to buy 128 Leopard 2A4s from the German Army, the above MBTs are 25 – 27 years old and the technical condition is assessed quite well. Poland believes that the above-mentioned tanks have only worn 25-30% and can be used normally for at least 10 more years, but from the time they received the tanks until the overhaul in 2011, they just been on the payroll for more than 5 years. In addition to the components with high wear and tear such as the gun barrel, the transmission system, during the overhaul, Poland discovered many problems such as the thermal imager of the gunner and the commander and many components of the system. Fire control is almost out of service. The irony is that these devices have long been out of production, so the Polish Army decided to comprehensively upgrade the Leopard 2A4 tanks to the Leopard 2PL standard. The main battle tank Leopard 2PL of the Polish Army The upgrade package focuses on the viewfinder, front armor, bodywork and undercarriage. However, the addition of steel plates to the chassis to prevent mines was removed because it would increase the weight to 59.5 tons equivalent to Leopard 2A5, which required reinforcement of the suspension system, leading to an increase in costs. The upgrade package also requires replacing the hydraulic cannon stabilization system with electricity, reducing the possibility of the vehicle burning when the vehicle is hit, adding a reversing camera and an auxiliary electric motor. There is also an expansion pack, which includes upgraded communication equipment, integrated remote control machine gun turret, air conditioning for the crew, heatsink for the electronics. The general requirement is that the cost of the Leopard 2PL after the upgrade is only half that of the Leopard 2A6. After many biddings, finally the contract to upgrade 128 Leoaprd 2A4 vehicles was signed in 2015, the main contractor is a Polish company with a German partner, the deadline for completing the work is in 2020. The upgrade contract value is up to 575 million USD, which calculates that each tank requires 4.5 million USD in modernization money, not to mention the initial purchase cost, which is more expensive than the production T-90M Proryv-3 Brand new from Russia.

This strange tank history was born in the 1960s, when the Swedish army planned to develop a new line of main battle tanks to deal with the Soviet Union. Swedish engineers propose a unique idea when not to use turrets like conventional tanks. The main gun was fixed to the body of the vehicle, but did not have a rotating turret like normal tanks. The engineers argued that the cannon fixed to the hull made it more accurate to fire than the rotating turret. In addition, the use of a turret makes the overall height of the tank significantly reduced, harder to detect on the battlefield, and the low height also makes it harder for the tank to hit the enemy’s fire. Eventually a design was born, called Stridsvagn 103. Sweden wants to develop the Stridsvagn 103 into a high-speed assault and ambush armor vehicle, taking advantage of the superiority of precision firing to destroy, disrupting the enemy tanker formation. The Stridsvagn 103 is fitted with a 105 mm main gun, with an automatic reload system. Because there is no turret, the angle of lift and lowering of the gun is adjusted through a special suspension that can be lifted and lowered when necessary. However, the angle of elevation and lowering of the cannon is quite limited, Stridsvagn 103 cannot shoot from above. The crew must rotate the entire body to adjust the line of sight. Stridsvagn 103 tanks were produced to full scale from 1967 and lasted until 1971. In total, about 290 vehicles were produced and handed over to the Swedish army. In the 60s and 70s, Stridsvagn 103 was the core of the armored Swedish force. The car chain has small hooks to increase the grip of the road. The chassis has a blade that can be used to dig a camouflage tunnel for the vehicle. The Stridsvagn 103 tank can wade in about 20 minutes after the preparation time, the wading speed is about 6 km / h. In 1967, Norway compared this tank with the Leopard-1. When the lid is closed, the Stridsvagn 103 detects the target faster than the Leopard-1, the opposite result when opening the door. In 1975, two Stridsvagn 103 were shipped to the US for performance testing with the M60A1E3 version. The results showed that Stridsvagn 103 fired more accurately, but the average time per shot was 0.5 seconds slower. Stridsvagn 103’s superiority in accuracy was not enough to compensate for design flaws. This bizarre tank was quickly replaced by the Stridsvagn 122 (version of the Leopard-2) German made in Sweden in 1997.