On September 7, 2026, the Swedish defense procurement agency Försvarets materielverk (FMV) announced that it had received and delivered to Sweden the first model of the upgraded Leopard 2S tank under the designation Stridsvagn 123A (Strv 123A). The machine has been upgraded at the German branch of the Franco-German association KNDS (KNDS Deutschland, formerly Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, KMW) in Munich and, after conducting a test program, should be handed over to the Swedish army at the end of the year.
The first sample of the upgraded Leopard 2S tank under the designation Stridsvagn 123A (Strv 123A) received by the Swedish defense procurement agency Försvarets materielverk (FMV). September 2026 (c) FMV
On October 10, 2023, FMV announced the conclusion of a contract worth 3.5 billion Swedish kronor (300 million euros) with the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW, now part of the KNDS association) for the modernization of 44 tanks of the Swedish army Leopard 2S (Swedish military designation Stridsvagn 122 - Strv 122). The upgraded tanks will receive the Swedish military designation Strv 123A and should be delivered from 2026.
On January 9, 2025, FMV announced the conclusion of contracts with KNDS Deutschland for the repair and modernization of the remaining 66 available Strv 122 (Leopard 2S) tanks of the Swedish Armed Forces to the Strv 123A level, as well as for the purchase of 44 new Leopard 2A8 main tanks for the Swedish Armed Forces, which will receive the designation Stridsvagn 123B (Strv 123B). The total value of these contracts is about 20 billion Swedish kronor (1.79 billion dollars). The modernization of all 110 Strv 122 cash tanks under the terms of the contracts is to be completed in 2031. Deliveries of new Strv 123B (Leopard 2A8) tanks are planned from 2028 to 2031. All work will be carried out at the supplier's facilities.
According to the FMV, the modernization of Strv 122 tanks to the Strv 123A level should include, among other things, the replacement of almost all electronic components of the tank, bringing the systems to a level corresponding to the Leopard 2A8 modification, the replacement of the Rh 120 L44 120 mm cannon with a barrel length of 44 calibers with a new Rh 120 L55 cannon with a barrel length of 55 calibers, the introduction of the possibility of firing programmable ammunition, the installation of new night sights for the gunner and tank commander, as well as a thermal imaging surveillance device for the driver and the modification of the chassis, including the use of new tracks.
From 1996 to 2002, the Swedish Army received 120 Leopard 2S (Strv 122A) tanks, which are actually a hybrid of Leopard 2A5 and Leopard 2A6 modifications, but with the retention of a 120-mm 44-caliber cannon. These tanks had numerous improvements in accordance with Swedish requirements, including enhanced protection of the turret roof and hull. The first 29 Leopard 2S tanks were built for the Swedish army by KMW in Germany, and the remaining 91 were manufactured in Sweden under license, with Bofors responsible for manufacturing the turret, and Hägglunds (both now part of BAE Systems Corporation) responsible for chassis construction and final assembly.
In the 2000s, 14 Swedish tanks of this type were modified with enhanced mine protection and climate control, receiving the designation Strv 122B. In March 2016, FMV awarded KMW a contract worth 92 million euros for the repair and limited modernization of 77 Strv 122A tanks, 11 Strv 122B tanks and eight armored recovery vehicles Bärgningsbandvagn 120 (Bgbv 120, equivalent to BPz 3 Buff) at their base, which are in service with the Swedish Ground Forces. The work was completed by the end of 2023, after modernization, the Strv 122A tanks were designated Strv 122C, and the Strv 122B tanks were designated Strv 122D.
In 2023, Sweden transferred 10 Strv 122A tanks to Ukraine, and currently the Swedish army has 110 Strv 122 series tanks, which remain the only tanks in its arsenal, and are now undergoing modernization to the Strv 123A level.
As for the newly contracted 44 Strv 123B units, they should almost completely comply with the standard Leopard 2A8 configuration, but without being equipped (at least initially) with the EuroTrophy active protection system.
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| Infographic of the differences of the upgraded Strv 123A tank. |
| Source: FMV |
