Armors (Tanks) of Panama Coalition Defense Force Army

Leopard-2A6M+ Main Battle Tank: 3.500 tanks.
Armament: 1 × 120 mm L/55 smoothbore gun, 2 × 7.62 mm MG3A1 machine guns
Armor: resist 125 mm APFSDS rounds fired (820 mm against APFSDS). NBC protection.
Weight: 62.3 tonnes
Crew: 4

Munitions: 42 x rounds (120×570mm NATO)

- Laser Homing Attack or Laser Homing Anti-Tank (LAHAT) ATGM 120mm (range 8 kms) against tank/helicopters. (penetration > 800mm)
- Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), long dart penetrator (DM43A1 (Germany-1996); perforation of 560 mm at 2000 m / K279 (South Korea-2008); perforation of >700 mm (LoS at 60° obliquity) at 2000 m)
- High-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) (K280 HEAT-MP-T (2008) perforation of 700 mm)
- High Explosive (HE)
- Close Combat (M1028 canister)
- Target Practice Tracer (TP-T)

The LEOPARD-2A6M owes its outstanding performance capability to an ideal combination of protection, mobility, manoeuvrability and fire power. The optimal manoeuvrability of the LEOPARD-2 is based on the unique symbiosis between vehicle crew and cutting-edge German-made technology. The Leopard 2A6M is an advanced main battle tank (MBT) based on the Leopard 2 series of tanks, which was developed by the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). While the Leopard 2A6 is the base variant, the “M” in Leopard 2A6M stands for “Modular” and signifies that it is a modernized version with additional features and upgrades.

The Leopard-2A6 includes the addition of the Rheinmetall 120 mm L/55 smoothbore gun and other changes. The Leopard-2A6M incorporates advanced composite and modular armour, which provides increased protection against a wide range of threats, including kinetic energy penetrators, shaped charges, and explosive fragments. It also has additional layers of armour and modular add-on armour kits that can be customized to the operational requirements.

The tank has a crew of four, including a driver, a commander, a gunner, and a loader. The crew is provided with advanced ergonomics, improved situational awareness through enhanced vision devices, and increased survivability features like NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protection systems.

Significant modifications include the mine protection belly armour added thus giving the tank the “M” designation; anti IED (improvised explosive device) jamming gear which includes the “T” antenna stands, and stand-off slat armour. The front upper hull received an armoured plate by the drivers hatch. Another feature of these tanks been fitted with a cooling unit with cooling suits for the crew , and the Saab Barracuda camouflage mats which also serve to reduce solar loading by 50 percent. This system was added to the deployed Leopards in 2009. The Leopard-2A6M+ is an identical version of the Leopard-2A6M, the only modification being an armor plate on the underside of the tank, for greater protection against anti-tank mines and improvised explosive devices.

Equipment Features of the LEOPARD-2A6M:

- Passive mine protection for the crew.
- Exterior telephone for dismounted forces (optional).
- Dual command capability for the use of different radio systems (optional).
- Combined driver night vision (thermal imager/low light amplifier) for front and/or rear view (optional).
- Optronics (day/night) for reconnaissance over great distances.
- New operator concept for improving the vehicle’s manoeuvrability.
- Command and information system (optional).
- Air conditioning unit.

All panamanian tank battalions are equipped with the A6M/M+. These were delivered from 2007.

Leopard-2A7+ Main Battle Tank: ?? (reemplacing the Leopard 2A6).
Armament: 1 × 120 mm smoothbore gun. 1 × 7.62 mm MG3A1 coaxial machine gun. 1 x 7.62mm machine gun and 40mm grenade launchers or a 12.7 mm machine gun mounted in remotely controlled weapon station.
Armor: resist 125 mm APFSDS rounds fired (1000 mm against APFSDS); RPG rockets. NBC protection.
Weight: 67.5 tonnes
Crew: 4

Munitions: 42 x rounds (120×570mm NATO)

- Laser Homing Attack or Laser Homing Anti-Tank (LAHAT) ATGM 120mm (range 8 kms) against tank/helicopters. (penetration > 800mm)
- Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), long dart penetrator (K279 (South Korea-2008); perforation of >700 mm (LoS at 60° obliquity) at 2000 m)
- High-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) (K280 HEAT-MP-T (2008) perforation of 700 mm)
- High Explosive (HE)
- Close Combat (M1028 canister)
- Target Practice Tracer (TP-T)

The new battle tank is a further development of the Leopard 2A6 MBT and features enhanced protection and reconnaissance capabilities. It can operate in low-intensity conflicts and in high-intensity warfare and employs digitised technology and multifunctional user concept for improved sustainability. The turret and chassis of the Leopard 2A7+ are fitted with a cooling system.

Leopard 2A7+ main battle tank is equipped with a FLW 200 modular remote controlled light weapon station that provides active self-defence from a variety of targets. The weapon system features automatic vehicle detection capability and optoelectronic equipment.

The Leopard 2A7 is fitted with a modular protection additional composite armor kit. It is the latest generation of passive armor, which provides higher level of protection against wide range of threats. It seems that the armor uses new nano-ceramics materials and modern titanium and steel alloys. The new armor offers 360° protection against RPG rounds. New side skirts were fitted. Protection of the hull floor was also increased to withstand blasts for landmines and improvised explosive devices. This MBT has a modular armor, so damaged modules can be easily replaced in field conditions.

This main battle tank can be fitted with a front-mounted dozer blade for self-entrenching and clearing obstacles. Mine ploughs or mine rollers can also be attached.

Other features:

- 360º surveillance cameras.
- 3rd gen Thermal Cameras.
- Laser emission alerter.
- New PERI RTWL stabilised glass optical periscope for day and night reconnaissance over long distances.
- Combined driver night vision (thermal imaging device/remaining light intensifier) ​​for front and rear view.
- Improved optronics (day/night) for reconnaissance over long distances.
- Digitized and multifunctional operator concept.
- Management and information system.
- Fuze programmable ammunition.

M8A1 Buford Expeditionary Light Tank (ELT): 500 tanks.
Armament: 1 × 105 mm rifled gun; 1 x 12.7 mm commander's M2 Browning; 1 × 7.62 mm coaxial M240C machine gun
Armor:
· NBC protection.
· Level I Armor: against small arms fire and shell splinters.
· Level II Armor: against armor piercing small arms and small cannon fire.
· Level III Armor: against 35 mm armor-piercing rounds fired, anti-tank guided missile and RPG.
Weight: 19.9 tons (Level I Armor); 22.9 tons (Level II Armor); 26 tons (Level III Armor)
Crew: 3

parachute air-droppable.

Munitions: 31 rounds (105×617mm NATO)

- Laser Homing Attack or Laser Homing Anti-Tank (LAHAT) ATGM 105mm (range 8 kms) against tank/helicopters. (penetration > 800mm)
- Armour-piercing discarding sabot (APDS)
- Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) (K274N (South Korea-2002) penetration of >500 mm at 60° obliquity at 2000 m)
- High explosive anti-tank (HEAT) (CH-105-MZ HEAT-T (Spain) penetration of 443 mm of RHA at any range)
- High-explosive squash head (HESH)
- High explosive (HE)
- Smoke shells
- Anti-personnel
- Illuminating

The Army's M8A1 Buford Expeditionary Light Tank (ELT) was designed for use by Airborne and Light Infantry/Cavalry forces and is C-130 and larger aircraft airland transportable and parachute air-droppable. The ELT fires the entire suite of 105mm munitions, from anti-personnel (beehive) to the M900 Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS-T-DU), which provides lethality equal to the M829 120mm round.

The M8A1 has advanced technologies include: hybrid electric propulsion, band track, improved ceramic/composite armor, Second Generation FLIR Night Vision technology, digitization, Digital Data Bus and computerized fire control system.

Features of M8A1:

- Laser Rangefinder.
- SAAB Thermal Barracuda Camouflage Net.
- 16x Smoke Grenade Launchers (Equipped for all Armor Levels).
- Iron Fist Light Decoupled (IF-LD) APS (Hard-kill APS system designed to intercept incoming RPG's, ATGM's, and RR's. 2 x Launchers, one on the front left side of the turret, the other on the right rear side of the turret for 360 degree protection.
- 4x Radars and 4x Optical Sensors mounted externally are used to locate and destroy incoming targets.
- Digital Processors are located inside the vehicle) Night Vision Device (NVD) for Commander.
- Raytheon Improved HIRE (2nd Generation Thermal Viewer) for Gunner.
- Thermal Camera/TBD for Driver.
- Air conditioning unit.

It also has provision for a future active protection system or APS—a radar-guided system that typically fires patterns of explosive penetrators to defeat incoming rocket-propelled grenades or anti-tank guided missiles. The flat panel-radars and launchers for such a system can be easily removed.

The M8A1 has a ramp door in the rear that lowers for the Engine/Transmission power train to be rolled out for easy maintenance. With the conversion to Hybrid Electric Drive and the flexibility of positioning drive train and suspension components, significant space is freed up in the existing propulsion system compartment for increased stowage and mission payload. One such configuration could include a crew compartment for a 4-Soldier fire team akin to the IDF's Merkava heavy tank. With the Hybrid Electric Drive's flexibility, a better center of gravity and space utilization is realized. Weight reduction and related mission equipment stowage improvements are also gained. With such a propulsion and power management system, Soldiers will have a long range, extremely fast, and silent killer, with a reduced logistics tail.

The M8A1 is lighter and more portable than other tanks.

C-17 Globemaster III can transport 3 x M8A1

C-130 Hercules can transport 1 x M8A1.