It appears to use the basic hull design of the Leopard 2, though the shape of the hull suggests newer, thicker armor along the front and sides. The only way to move forward is to design something completely new.

Unfortunately, like many upgraded systems, eventually there comes a point when it becomes impractical to keep adding new stuff to the old system. The Leopard II has been steadily upgraded for decades, with the latest version being the German Army’s Leopard 2A7. The Leopard 2 debuted in the early 1980s and is still in service today with over a dozen armies worldwide. The KF51 is the successor to the Leopard 2, a contemporary of the American M1 Abrams tank. The Panther made its debut in the Battle of Kursk in 1943, and served on both the Eastern and Western fronts, including D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. The Panther was one of the best tanks of the war, but was severely hobbled by mechanical and reliability issues. The Panzerkampfwagen V, also known as the “Panther,” was designed in 1942 to counter Russian tanks, including the T-34 medium tank. If the name Panther is familiar, that’s because it is. Rheinmetall unveiled the Panther (pictured at the top of this story) featuring a gray, black, and neon yellow digital-camouflage pattern. The show, held every two years, is a showcase for Europe’s arms manufacturers to advertise their latest equipment.

On Monday, Düsseldorf, Germany-based Rheinmetall, an arms manufacturing firm, unveiled the KF51 Panther at France’s Eurosatory arms show. The Panther even has the ability to counter so-called “top-attack” munitions, like the American-made Javelin missile, that are decimating Putin’s army in Ukraine. The KF51, also known as the “Panther,” is bristling with new technology, including a larger main gun, a digital computer backbone, and a full suite of defensive features.

Germany has unveiled a new main battle tank-its first in more than 40 years. Panther adds a larger gun, suicide drones, and a new system to defeat top-attack anti-tank weapons. The tank, KF51, is called the “Panther,” sharing its name with a World War II-era tank. Germany’s Rheinmetall has unveiled a new, next-generation tank for the modern battlefield. Photo credit: EMMANUEL DUNAND - Getty Images

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