On November 19, 2025, the first production tanks of the new Leopard 2A8 modification, manufactured for the armed forces of Germany and Norway, were demonstrated at the test site of the head office of the German branch of the Franco-German association KNDS (KNDS Deutschland, formerly Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, KMW) in Munich. The first 155 mm/52 self-propelled howitzer of the new modification PzH 2000 A4 made for the German army was also presented. The ceremony was attended by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Norwegian Secretary of State for Defense Marthe Gerhardsen and Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Zeder.
Demonstration at the test site of the head office of the German branch of the KNDS association (KNDS Deutschland) of the first production tanks of the new modification Leopard 2A8, manufactured for the armed forces of Germany and Norway, and the first 155-mm/52 self-propelled howitzer of the new modification PzH 2000 A4, manufactured for the German army. Munich, 11/19/2025 (c) KNDS
On May 25, 2023, the Federal Defense procurement agency Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) of the German Ministry of Defense signed a framework contract with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW, since June 2023 - KNDS Deutschland) for the purchase of 123 new Leopard 2A8 main tanks for the German Army. The first part of the contract provided for the development and supply of 18 tanks of the new Leopard 2A8 modification for the German Army at a price of 525.6 million euros in 2025-2026, designed to replace 18 Leopard 2A6 tanks transferred to Ukraine from the Bundeswehr. The contract also includes a logistics package, including spare parts and maintenance of these tanks for five years. The second option part of the contract provides for the supply of another 105 Leopard 2A8 tanks in 2027-2030, and was transferred to a firm contract in July 2024 at an agreed price of 2.93 billion euros.
Earlier in February 2023, the Norwegian defense procurement agency Forsvarsmateriell signed a contract with KMW worth NOK 19.7 billion ($1.928 billion) for the purchase of 54 new-made Leopard 2A7+ tanks for the Norwegian army (designated Leopard 2A7 NO in a variant adapted to Norwegian requirements), with an option for another 18 units, with delivery to in 2026-2028. In June 2023, KMW reached an agreement with Forsvarsmateriell to "adapt the nomenclature" of the signed contract for the Leopard 2A8 modification, and thus, the tanks purchased by Norway will belong to the Leopard 2A8 version and receive the official designation Leopard 2A8 NOR. The total cost of the project for the purchase of 54 Leopard 2A8 NOR tanks is now estimated at 23.4 billion Norwegian kroner ($2.28 billion).
Now, the first production Leopard 2A8 tank for the Bundeswehr and Leopard 2A8 NOR have each been publicly presented in Munich. It is reported that their actual transfer to customers will be made in April 2026, after which serial deliveries to both countries will begin. It is noted that the Leopard 2A8, manufactured for the Bundeswehr, became the first Leopard 2 tank of a new production built for the German army since 1992. All tanks for the Bundeswehr will be manufactured at KNDS Deutschland in Munich, and 37 of the 54 tanks for Norway will be assembled by the Norwegian company RITEK in Levanger starting in 2027 as part of an agreement signed with KNDS in June 2024. The first Leopard 2A8 tanks of the Bundeswehr are to be supplied to the 45th German Tank Brigade deployed in Lithuania.
The Leopard 2A8 modification was developed by KMW based on the Leopard 2A7HU tank variant (Leopard 2A7+ modification version), in the amount of 44 units ordered by Hungary under the 2018 contract (deliveries of these vehicles to Hungary have been underway since December 2023). While retaining the Rheinmetall Rh 120 L55A1 120mm/55mm tank cannon, the Leopard 2A8 tank has improved armor protection using spaced composite multilayer armor of the third generation throughout the structure. This innovative armor is said to include high-hardness armor steel, tungsten, plastic filler, and ceramic components. The mine protection of the hull and the protection of the roof of the hull and especially the turret from cluster munitions have also been strengthened.
The Leopard 2A8 tank has "significantly upgraded optoelectronics and wind technology," in particular, combining video and infrared channels available to the entire crew, an upgraded fire control system, the introduction of an all-round vision system and improved communications and network capabilities. The tank also has an auxiliary power plant with an increased capacity of 20 kW (instead of 17 kW on the Leopard 2A7V) and a powerful air conditioning system.
The main feature of the Leopard 2A8 is the regular integration of the EuroTrophy active protection complex based on the Trophy complex of the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The EuroTrophy KAZ is being promoted and manufactured by the EuroTrophy GmbH joint venture, organized by KNDS Deutschland, General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which was specially created in Germany in 2022. Both of the first production Leopard 2A8 tanks were equipped with EuroTrophy KAZ at the demonstration in Munich.
To date, in addition to the armed forces of Germany and Norway, Leopard 2A8 tanks have also been contracted under the joint procurement program with the head role of the German BAAINBw, Lithuania (2024 contract for 44 tanks, with delivery in 2028-2030), Sweden (2025 contract for 44 tanks, with delivery in 2028-2031), the Netherlands (a 2025 contract for 46 tanks with an option for six more tanks, plus four training tanks, for delivery in 2028-2031) and the Czech Republic (a 2025 contract for 44 tanks with an option for another 14, for delivery in 2028-2031). Croatia has also signed a preliminary agreement of intent to purchase up to 50 Leopard 2A8 tanks.
As for the demonstrated first production model of the 155 mm/52 self-propelled howitzer of the new PzH 2000 A4 modification, it was manufactured under two contracts issued by BAAINBw to KMW in March and May 2023 for the supply of a total of 22 self-propelled guns to the Bundeswehr in the new version of the PzH 2000 A4 (with an option for six more) instead of the PzH 2000 systems. transferred from the German Army to Ukraine (14 units) or disassembled for spare parts (eight). The first 10 PzH 2000 A4 self-propelled guns under these contracts were to be delivered in 2025-2026. At the demonstration ceremony of the first serial self-propelled gun in Munich, it was announced that it would be delivered to the customer in May 2026. In addition, 18 self-propelled guns of a new production, ordered by the German government for delivery to Ukraine in February 2024, are to be manufactured in the PzH 2000 A4 modification, their delivery was planned from the end of 2025 to 2027.
The PzH 2000 A4 modification features an improved fire control system and modern digital architecture. The modernization was based on the replacement of the outdated MICMOS fire control computer with the new Centurion, which increases computing power, accelerates the processing of fire tasks and ensures integration with the fire control architecture that meets NATO standards. The new system also supports modern 155 mm precision guided munitions such as Vulcano and Excalibur, providing them with higher accuracy and longer range. The updated power supply and cooling architecture was also implemented on the PzH 2000 A4 ACS, in particular, a separate auxiliary power plant and a temperature control system were installed, which increased energy efficiency and created a reserve of electricity for the possible installation of additional equipment in the future. Numerous improvements have also been made to the design of the ACS, due to the experience of combat use of the PzH 2000 systems in Ukraine.
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Demonstration at the test site of the head office of the German branch of the KNDS association (KNDS Deutschland) of the first production tanks of the new modification Leopard 2A8, manufactured for the armed forces of Germany and Norway, and the first 155-mm/52 self-propelled howitzer of the new modification PzH 2000 A4, manufactured for the German army. Munich, 11/19/2025 (c) KNDS, Bundeswehr and Alexandra Beier
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