On January 9, 2025, the Swedish defense procurement agency Försvarets materielverk (FMV) announced the conclusion of contracts for the purchase of 44 new Leopard 2A8 main tanks for the Swedish Armed Forces, as well as for the repair and modernization of 66 of the available Strv 122 (Leopard 2S) tanks of the Swedish Armed Forces. The total value of the contracts is about 20 billion Swedish kronor (1.79 billion dollars). The Postavshik has not been officially named, but it is obvious that it is the German branch of the Franco-German association KNDS (KNDS Deutschland, formerly Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, KMW).
One of the Strv 122A (Leopard 2S) tanks transferred by Sweden to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 2024 (c) social media
It is reported that the new Leopard 2A8 tanks will receive the official Swedish military designation Stridsvagn 123B (Strv 123B), and the upgraded Strv 122 tanks will receive the designation Stridsvagn 123A (Strv 123A). The upgraded Strv 123A tanks will be delivered from 2027 to 2030, and the new Strv 123B (Leopard 2A8) tanks from 2028 to 2031. All work will be carried out at the supplier's facilities.
Earlier in October 2023, FMV had already awarded KMW the first contract worth 3.5 billion Swedish kronor (314 million dollars) for the modernization of the first 44 tanks of the Swedish army Strv 122 to the Strv 123A level, with delivery starting in 2026. Thus, all 110 available Strv 122 tanks of the Swedish Armed Forces are now to be upgraded under these two contracts (44 + 66). In addition to them, 44 Strv 123B (Leopard 2A8) tanks of new production will also be delivered under the new contract.
According to the FMV, upgrading the Strv 122 tank to the Strv 123A level should include, among other things, replacing almost all electronic components of the tank, bringing the systems to a level "corresponding to other modern Leopard 2" (apparently, the Leopard 2A8 is specifically meant), replacing the Rh 120 L44 120 mm cannon with a barrel length of 44 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 the Leopard 2A5 and Leopard 2A6 modifications, but with the retention of a 120-mm cannon with a length of 44 caliber. 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 KMW Army 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 to be completed by the end of 2023, after modernization, the Strv 122A tanks received the designation Strv 122C, and the Strv 122B tanks received the designation 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.
As for the Leopard 2A8, Sweden thereby joined the pool of countries for the purchase of these tanks, led by Germany. To date, agreements on the purchase of Leopard 2A8 tanks have been signed, in addition to Germany, by the Netherlands, Norway, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania, and Croatia has also signed a preliminary memorandum. In May 2023, the German defense procurement agency BAAINBw signed a framework contract with KMW (now KNDS Deutschland) for the purchase of 123 Leopard 2A8 tanks for the German army, with a firm contract worth 525.6 million euros for the supply of the first 18 tanks in 2025.
Infographic of procurement of advanced Strv 123 tanks (Leopard 2A8 newly built and upgraded Strv 122) for the Swedish Armed Forces (c) FMV
