EMES 15 EMES 15 is a main sight used in Leopard 2 tanks . It has two vision modes , normal dayvision and a thermal vision mode . Dayvision has a 12x magnification , and the thermal vision has two options : 4x or 12x . The image from EMES can also be switched to commander ' s periscope PERI , allowing the commander to observe what the gunner sees . This makes it possible for commander to see thermal image ( even though in Leopard 2A5 and 2A6 the commander has his own thermal camera in his periscope ) . Emes 15 is also connected to the stabilizer , allowing extreme accuracy even when the tank is moving . When stabilizer is on , the cannon follows the sight even in the hardest terrain . With thermal camera and the stabilizer , EMES 15 gives the gunner the ability to engage targets from movement in any terrain , any weather , no matter if it is day or night . Dayvision . The dayvision is laser filtered , so incoming laser light does not hurt the gunner ' s eyes . The field of view exists only in 12x magnification , which cannot be changed , making the field of view rather narrow . It is excellent on long distances , allowing the gunner to see far away targets with great detail . Finding close range targets however is quite challenging . If dirty , the glass of the dayvision ( and laser range finder for that matter ) can be washed by pushing a button , just like car ' s windshield . Thermal imaging . Thermal camera has two magnification levels , 4x and 12x . The 4x is for finding the target , and 12x for destroying it , just like in dayvision . The image does not adjust itself , so the gunner has to pull the small switch on the control panel to adjust the sharpness if the picture is not adjusted for the right distance . Image can also be adjusted between white and black thermal input , making it easier to detect targets hiding in different temperatures . The thermal camera is excellent for night conditions , making leopard 2 a very dangerous opponent in any time . However , weather conditions may affect the sight , such as fog may reduce visibility quite a lot . Also if the thermal camera protection glass is covered with splattering mud for example , or lots of dirty water , the visibility might reduce to almost nothing , until dried in time or washed by hand . Unlike dayvision , the thermal vision doesn ' t have a washer which could be used from the inside . The glass protecting the camera is made bulletproof , protecting from small arms . In case heavier weapons to be used against EMES15 , the main sight has armor flaps which can be closed up in front of the glasses of day and thermalvision . This is especially useful if under airstrike etc . Other technology connected to EMES15 . The main sight also has a laser rangefinder , which can detect the range of a target from 200 – 9990 meters , with 10 meter accuracy . The number can be seen at the lower part of the display when used . The EMES15 sight and main gun are stabilized both in horizontal and vertical axis by WHA - H22 electrohydraulical stabilizer , the medium error of stabilization is 0 , 15 - 0 , 20 mrad in vertical axis . EMES15 is connected to the central computer system , which supervises their condition . If any of the equipment failures , or is destroyed , the computer notifies the tank commander with an error text on the screen in front of him .