A Look at Kostrad’s Leopard 2: German-Made Tank Equipped with Smart Ammunition

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Leopard 2 RI Main Battle Tank (MBT) owned by the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) was one of the highlights at the TNI Fair held at the National Monument (Monas) on Saturday (19/9/2026).

TNI soldier Sergeant Iman Mendrofa revealed that this tank is a special variant ordered by Indonesia from Germany.

"There are two versions produced: the 2A4 and this one, the 2 RI, which is a special order. That’s why it's called 2 RI," Iman told Kompas.com on Saturday.

He explained that besides the Leopard 2 RI, there is also the Leopard 2A4 variant, with the main difference being in their armor protection systems.

Iman also detailed several characteristics of the Leopard 2 RI, including its armament, protective layers, and mobility capabilities.

The Leopard 2 RI measures approximately 7.72 meters in length, 4.1 meters wide, and about 3 meters in height.

The tank weighs 63.5 tons and can reach a top speed of 68 kilometers per hour.

Its main weapon is a 120-millimeter caliber cannon.

Iman explained that the ammunition used by the Leopard 2 RI is no ordinary type but smart ammunition.

This ammunition can control the explosion based on the target’s condition.

For example, the shell can penetrate a target first and then explode inside.

"Take a building, for instance; the shell only penetrates the target first. Then it detonates after penetration. The timing of the explosion can be controlled," Iman explained.

In addition to the main 120-millimeter cannon, the tank also has supporting weapons mounted on top of the vehicle.

The Leopard 2 RI is equipped with a front camera that allows the driver to see outside conditions through a monitor inside the tank.

The exterior of the tank is protected by armor plating.