The anti-air machine gun could be operated from inside the vehicle and a TV surveillance camera was mounted on an extendable mast. The projected upgrades added an autoloader, a coaxial autocannon and an independent commander's periscope. This study was named vergoldeter Leopard ( Gilded Leopard) and focused on incorporating advanced technology into the Leopard design. Therefore, the German government issued the order to research future upgrade options for the Leopard 1 to the German company Porsche in 1967. However already in 1967 it became questionable whether the MBT-70 would enter service at any time in the foreseeable future. This resulted in the start of the MBT-70 development in cooperation with the United States beginning in 1963. History Development Įven as the Leopard 1 was just entering service, the West German military was interested in producing an improved tank in the next decade. In 2023, Ukrainian Leopard 2 tanks saw action in the Russo-Ukrainian War. In the 2010s, Turkish Leopard 2 tanks saw action in Syria. In the 2000s, Dutch, Danish and Canadian forces deployed their Leopard 2 tanks in the War in Afghanistan as part of their contribution to the International Security Assistance Force. In the 1990s, the Leopard 2 was used by the German Army on peacekeeping operations in Kosovo. The tank is powered by a V12 twin-turbo diesel engine made by MTU Friedrichshafen. This is operated with a digital fire control system, laser rangefinder, and advanced night vision and sighting equipment. The main armament of all Leopard 2 tanks is a smoothbore 120 mm cannon made by Rheinmetall. The second tranche, from Leopard 2A5 onwards, has an angled, arrow-shaped, turret appliqué armour, together with other improvements. The first encompasses tanks produced up to the Leopard 2A4 standard and are characterised by their vertically faced turret armour.

There are two main development tranches of the Leopard 2. Some operating countries have licensed the Leopard 2 design for local production and domestic development. Various iterations of the Leopard 2 continue to be operated by the armed forces of Germany, as well as 13 other European countries, and several non-European countries, including Canada, Chile, Indonesia, and Singapore. Developed by Krauss-Maffei in the 1970s, the tank entered service in 1979 and replaced the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the West German army. The Leopard 2 is a third generation German main battle tank (MBT).

K2 main battle tank