The Dutch government has announced that it has finalized an agreement to purchase a minimum of 46 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks (MBTs) from the German-French defence manufacturer KNDS, marking the establishment of a tank unit in the Netherlands Armed Forces for the first time in more than ten years.
The delivery of these tanks is scheduled between 2028 and 2031, as part of the Netherlands’ initiative to enhance military expenditure to meet the NATO requirement of allocating at least 2% of GDP towards defence.
Gijs Tuinman, State Secretary for Defence stated: “With the current threat of large-scale conflict, the tank is an indispensable tool. And when you stand next to it, you immediately understand why. The Leopard is one big chunk of combat power. This is the best there is in the field of tanks. Inside, the crew and advanced systems and sensors form a unit with an awesome striking power. A power that, combined with smart action, is difficult to stop. The Leopard remains the king of the battlefield.”
The Leopard 2 is a third-generation MBT from Germany. It was developed by Krauss-Maffei during the 1970s and was introduced into service in 1979, succeeding the earlier Leopard 1 as the primary battle tank for the West German army. Various models of the Leopard 2 are still in use by the German armed forces, along with those of 13 other European nations and several countries outside Europe, such as Canada, Chile, Indonesia, and Singapore. Some of these nations have obtained licenses to produce and further develop the Leopard 2 design domestically.
There are two primary development phases of the Leopard 2 tank. The initial phase includes tanks manufactured up to the Leopard 2A4 standard, which are distinguished by their vertically oriented turret armour. The subsequent phase, beginning with the Leopard 2A5, features an angled, arrow-shaped turret appliqué armour along with various enhancements.
All Leopard 2 tanks are equipped with a smoothbore 120 mm cannon produced by Rheinmetall, which is operated using a digital fire control system, a laser rangefinder, and sophisticated night vision and sighting technologies. The tank is powered by a V12 twin-turbo diesel engine manufactured by MTU Friedrichshafen.
During the 1990s, the German Army utilized the Leopard 2 for peacekeeping missions in Kosovo. In the 2000s, Dutch, Danish, and Canadian forces deployed their Leopard 2 tanks in the War in Afghanistan as part of their commitment to the International Security Assistance Force. In the 2010s, Turkish Leopard 2 tanks were engaged in operations in Syria. As of 2023, Ukrainian Leopard 2 tanks are actively participating in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.
The Leopard 2A8 is based on the current Leopard 2A7HU production model but features additional improvements, among them the integration of the Trophy APS and an all-round situational awareness system with sensor-fusion capability.
