1/ 2024 is shaping up to be a bit of a year of the Leopard, a brief summary of plans afoot to make even more Leopard 2 users and variants a reality, which is always a good thing.
An open-ended, non-exhaustive list of actual & speculative users going on as of February 2024:
2/ 🇮🇹 Italy: Leopard 2A8
The Italians are looking at a medium-term successor to the Ariete (pictured), despite that tank still being in the midst of an MLU, with long term aspirations to join MGCS (or whatever emerges when it finally gives up).
3/ They plan to do a lot of the work domestically, building at a Leonardo production line in La Spezia and fitting with Italian industry components including sights, radios, C2 suite and potentially domestic manufactured barrel for L55A1 gun.
Anticipated production run: 130x 2A8.
4/ 🇱🇹 Lithuania: Leopard 2A7/2A8
Lithuania is after a modest batch of 2A7 or 2A8 standard Leopard 2, adding a punchier capability to its Army that currently has nothing heavier than the Vilkas Boxer IFV fleet.
5/ Selection was based on a few variables including value of the LEOBEN user community for collaborative support and cost sharing, that they already operate German AFVs and have good arrangements for support, as well as fast delivery.
Anticipated production run: 50x tanks.
6/ 🇨🇿 Czechia: Leopard 2A7, 2A4, ARV
14x 2A4 and a Buffel ARV requested to get moving with the platform, meanwhile negotiations in progress to possibly order new 2A7 or 2A8-series tanks.
Anticipated Production run: c.50x 2A7.
7/ 🇭🇺 Hungary: Leopard 2A7HU, 2A4, AVLB, ARV
Deliveries are underway and first vehicles are in user's hands, arriving alongside a sizeable 209-vehicle order for KF-41 Lynx IFVs. It also has a natty camouflage to differentiate nicely from all the other 2A7 knocking about.
8/ The 2A7HU are replacing legacy T-72 tanks obtained from the Soviet Union, though only c.30 T-72M1 remain in service with 130 more optimistically described as in reserve.
Production run: 44x 2A7HU, with second hand vehicles: 12x 2A4, 9x AVLB and 9x Buffel
9/ 🇳🇴 Norway: Leopard 2A8NO
Ordered in 2023 as 2A7NO but later upgraded the order to 2A8NOs, selected over the K2NO in competitive tender, Norway’s newest Leopards will replace 28 rather old 2A4NO that are well past their best.
Production run: 54 2A8NO + option for 18 more
10/ 🇸🇰 Slovakia: Leopard 2A8
Slovakia bought 15 2A4 in 2022, all of which have been delivered, and are now showing interest in new build 2A8 to significantly uplift their capabilities.
Production run: 45-50 2A8.
11/ 🇪🇸 Spain: Leopardo 2E M2/M2+
Spain operates a mixed fleet of 2A4 and 2E (the latter a 2A6 derivative), and are looking at a pathway to upgrade to a 2A7/2A8 analogue called the 2E M2+.
12/ Previous twitter thread on this upgrade plan:
Production run: not stated yet, likely in the 50-120 range.
13/ 🇭🇷 Croatia: Leopard 2A8
Possible replacement for the very old M-84, reportedly in competition with K2 and possibly Leclerc XLR.
Production run: not stated yet, likely c.50.
14/ 🇬🇷 Greece: Leopard 2A7HEL
Discussions underway to upgrade a sizeable portion of the 170x 2HEL (2A6 analogue) to the 2A7 standard, doubtless this would be uplifted to 2A8 in any contractual agreement that may emerge.
Production run: not stated yet, likely in the 120-150 range.
15/ 🇩🇪 Germany: Leopard 2A7V/2A7A1/2A8
A sizeable upgrade was completed in late 2023 to deliver 104x 2A7V, upgraded from a mix of 2A4/2A6-derivatives/2A7 (obtained from the Dutch). 2A7A1 was then developed, featuring Trophy integration...
16/ ..., and in 2023 a (first?) batch of 18 2A8 with option for 105 more was placed.
Production run: 104x 2A7V, 17x 2A7A1, 18x 2A8
17/ 🇵🇱 Poland: Leopard 2A4, 2A5, 2PL
As part of the most eclectic tank fleet in the world, Poland ordered a range of Leopard 2 from 2002 with as-is tanks and a bespoke national configuration, the 2PL. They've also bought Abrams, ordered K2 and have a myriad of old T-72 and PT-91s
Long term Poland plans to settle on fewer tank types, operating twin fleets of US-sourced M1 Abrams and Korean K2PL, eventually retiring the Leopard 2 fleets.
Production run: 86x 2A4, 105x 2A5, 62x 2PL
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.