Belgium handed over an experimental tank to Ukraine, but in Kiev is not thrilled with him

After several months of testing in combat operations on Ukraine will receive a special version of the Leopard 1 tank, transferred to Kiev by Belgium. This was reported in the Belgian company John Cockerill.

A special modification of the Leopard-1A5BE tank is equipped with a unique Cockerill 3105 muzzle combat turret. According to the company's representatives, the tank tests were very successful, and the company has already offered to upgrade all Ukrainian Leopard 1 tanks to the C3105 standard.

The Belgian company noted that the main advantage of such a change would be the ability to fire from indirect fire from fortified positions. Thus, the tank will be able to act almost like a traditional artillery piece, which is facilitated by the fact that the new turret allows you to raise the gun to a level unattainable for any other tank turret on the market. The new tower is also equipped with an automatic charger, which will reduce the crew of the car from four to three people.

However, among Ukrainian experts, this tank has already raised a number of questions. It is stated that it remains to be decided whether this program makes sense at all, since Kiev previously had a lot of problems with servicing previously transferred old modifications of Leopard 1 tanks. At the same time, replacing the turret with the Cockerill 3105 model will require replacement of other tank components, which will automatically increase the cost and time required for such an upgrade.

Recall that Western countries, including Belgium, strongly support Kiev in a military conflict with Russia, making good money on it. The Belgian government announced the dispatch of this model of the tank to Ukraine back in April 2025.