First Leopard 2A8s, PzH 2000 A4 rolled out
The first Leopard 2A8 MBTs for Germany (right) and Norway (left) and PzH 2000 A4 SPH (centre, behind Pistorius) were rolled out at KNDS Deutschland in Munich on 19 November. (Bundeswehr/Jana Neumann)
The first Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks (MBTs) for Germany and Norway and Panzerhaubitze (PzH) 2000 A4 self-propelled howitzer (SPH) were rolled out at KNDS Deutschland in Munich on 19 November, Germany's Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg) and the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) announced on their websites later the same day.
The BMVg noted that the Leopard 2A8 features the Trophy active protection system (APS) and improvements in earlier versions' fire-control system, controls, and engine. The NDMA said the tank, which Norway has designated as Leopard 2A8 NOR, is among the most modern and digitised MBTs ever produced.
The PzH 2000 A4 will replace SPHs of the earlier version donated to Ukraine. Germany ordered 10 PzH 2000s on 31 March 2023.
While previous versions of the Leopard 2 were upgrades of already existing tanks, the Leopard 2A8 is the German Panzertruppe's (armour service's) first newbuild since 1992. The Leopard 2A7A1, the previous version rolled out in 2024, is the first Bundeswehr armoured vehicle equipped with an APS, the same Trophy system as the Leopard 2A8's. Both versions are equipped with Rheinmetall's L55A1 120 mm gun that can fire DM73 kinetic energy penetrator and DM11 high-explosive fragmentation rounds. They are also both equipped with two 7.62 mm machine guns and a smoke grenade launcher. The Leopard 2A8 has a new improved periscope for its tank commander and simplified controls for its gunner.
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