{
  "id": "leopard-1a4",
  "name": "Leopard 1A4",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "DEU",
  "category": "Main battle tank",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1975,
  "operators": [
    "DEU",
    "GRC",
    "POL"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 3,
  "summary": "Leopard 1A4 The Leopard 1A4 formed the sixth batch of 250 vehicles, delivery starting in 1974. The 1A4 was externally similar to the 1A3, but included a new computerized fire control system and the new EMES 12A1 sighting system to aim it.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, Munich, Germany Krupp-MaK, Kiel, Germany",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 4,
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 3.37,
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 42.4,
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "MTU MB 838 Ca M500",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 830,
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Transmission",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "ZF 4 HP 250 planetary shifter with hydraulic torque converter; 4 forward/2 reverse gears",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Suspension",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "torsion bar, 7 road wheels, rear drive (12- tooth sprocket), front idler, 5 shock absorbs (bump travel 9 in/227 mm, rebound travel 5-6 in/128-156 mm), 4 return rollers",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_road_kmh",
      "v": 62,
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording, Unprepared",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "1.20 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording, with Preparation",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "2.25 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording, with Snorkel",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "4.00 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fire control system",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "FLP-10/EMES 18 integrated fire control",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Computerized FCS",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, FLP-10/EMES 18 integrated fire control system with Zeiss thermal imaging system retrofitted to approximately 1,300 German Leopard 1A1/1A2s",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Main Gun Stabilization",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rangefinder",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "TEM 2A optical (Leopard 1A2) turret fully stabilized (A3, A4); retrofit of earlier AEG-Telefunken FLER-H modular hybrid computer (1A4 Krupp-Atlas)",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hull Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Glacis 70 mm at 60-deg: Hull Glacis top 25 mm at 83-deg: Hull nose 70 mm at 55-deg: Hull sides 25-35 mm: Hull rear 25 mm at 88 deg: Hull top 10 mm: Hull bottom 15 mm",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Turret Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Turret mantlet 60 mm; Turret sides 60 mm; Turret rear 60 mm; Turret front 52 mm",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Applique Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Available",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes, collective",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Smoke Equipment",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "2 x 4-barrel 3-in (76-mm) smoke generators, one each side of turret",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "label": "Secondary armament",
      "v": "Heckler & Koch MG5; 1 x 7.62-mm air defense machine gun",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "Projectile",
      "role": "105 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Armor penetration": "INA, Tungsten carbide"
      },
      "qty": "60 rounds, 18 ready in turret (Leopard 1A1)"
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Leopard 1",
      "text": "The Leopard project started in November 1956 in order to develop a modern tank, the Standard-Panzer, to replace the Bundeswehr's American-built M47 and M48 Patton tanks, which, though just delivered to West Germany's rec",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Leopard 1A1",
      "text": "After the first batch was delivered, the next three batches were the Leopard 1A1 model, which included a new gun stabilization system from Cadillac Gage that allowed the tank to fire effectively on the move. The 1A1 also",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Leopard 1A2",
      "text": "The first 232 tanks of the fifth production batch were delivered as the Leopard 1A2 between 1972 and 1974. The A2 included a heavier and better armoured turret, and therefore did not receive the B&V armour add-ons as did",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Leopard 1A3",
      "text": "The next 110 vehicles in the fifth batch were fitted with a new welded turret, which was equipped with a new armor consisting of two spaced steel plates with a plastic filling between them (high-hardness armor, and a wed",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Leopard 1A4",
      "text": "The Leopard 1A4 formed the sixth batch of 250 vehicles, delivery starting in 1974. The 1A4 was externally similar to the 1A3, but included a new computerized fire control system and the new EMES 12A1 sighting system to a",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Leopard 1A5",
      "text": "In 1980, a research program was undertaken to study further improvements to the Leopard 1, providing it with a completely modern fire control system and fully effective night/bad-weather vision system. The decision was m",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-1a4"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "tank",
  "image": {
    "file": "leopard-1a4.jpg",
    "thumb": "leopard-1a4-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Raymond Steenbock",
    "license": "Public domain",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Canadian_Army_Trophy_Competition_1979_Tanks_(CC_116871).jpg",
    "title": "File:Canadian Army Trophy Competition 1979 Tanks (CC 116871).jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (Public domain)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/leopard-1a4.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-leopard-1a4": {
      "title": "Leopard 1A4 German Main Battle Tank (MBT)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Leopard_1A4_German_Main_Battle_Tank",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}