Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 February 16

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Spanish Leopard 2E in Madrid, October 2006

The Leopard 2E is a variant of the German Leopard 2 main battle tank, tailored to the requirements of the Spanish Army, which acquired it as part of an armament modernization program named Program Armor. The acquisition program for the Leopard 2E began in 1994, five years after the cancellation of the Lince tank program that culminated in an agreement to transfer 108 Leopard 2A4s to the Spanish Army in 1998 and started the local production of the Leopard 2E in December 2003. Despite postponement of production due to the 2003 merger between Santa Bárbara Sistemas and General Dynamics and continued fabrication issues between 2006 and 2007, 219 Leopard 2Es have been delivered to the Spanish Army. The Leopard 2E is a major improvement over the M60 Patton tank, which it replaced in Spain's mechanized and armored units. Its development represented a total of 2.6 million hours worth of work, 9,600 of them in Germany, at a total cost of 1.9 billion euros. This makes it one of the most expensive Leopard 2s built. It has thicker armor on the turret and glacis plate than the German Leopard 2A6, and uses a Spanish-designed tank command and control system, similar to the one fitted in German Leopard 2s. The Leopard 2E is expected to remain in service until 2025. (more...)

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  • In the news

    Lucas Papademos

  • A fire at a prison in Comayagua, Honduras, kills more than 350 inmates.
  • In its maiden flight, ESA's Vega rocket successfully launches LARES and eight other satellites.
  • Amid protests, the Greek Parliament passes austerity measures by the country's interim coalition government, led by Lucas Papademos (pictured).
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  • In association football, the Africa Cup of Nations concludes with Zambia defeating Côte d'Ivoire.
  • The Artist wins seven awards, including Best Film, at the 65th British Academy Film Awards.
  • American singer Whitney Houston dies at the age of 48.
  • On this day...

    February 16: Statehood Day in Lithuania (1918)

    USS Philadelphia

  • 1804United States Navy Lieutenant Stephen Decatur led a raid to destroy the captured USS Philadelphia (pictured) in Tripoli, denying her use to the Barbary States in the First Barbary War.
  • 1918 – The Council of Lithuania signed the Act of Independence of Lithuania, proclaiming the restoration of an independent Lithuania governed by democratic principles, despite the presence of German troops in the country during World War I.
  • 1946 – The Sikorsky S-51, the first helicopter to be built for civilian instead of military use, made its first flight.
  • 1977 – Archbishop Janani Luwum of the Church of Uganda, a leading voice against the regime of Idi Amin, was arrested for treason and murdered the next day.
  • 1983 – The Ash Wednesday fires burned 513,979 acres (2,080 km2) in South Australia and 518,921 acres (2,100 km2) in Victoria, killing 75 people and injuring 2,676 others.
  • 1985 – "The Hizballah Program" was released, describing the ideology and goals of the Shia Islamic political and paramilitary organization Hizballah.
  • More anniversaries: February 15 February 16 February 17

    It is now February 16, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

    Today's featured picture

    Common collared lizard

    The common collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) is a North American lizard well known for its ability to run on its hind legs. Its length, including the tail, can reach up to 12 inches (30 cm). Its name reflects its distinct coloration, which includes bands of black around the neck and shoulders that resemble a collar.

    Photo: Daniel Schwen

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