Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has awarded KNDS Germany a contract to modify and deliver new Leopard 2 main battle tanks for the armed forces.
The deal calls for an overhaul of 66 existing Leopard 2s under the military and the supply of 44 new units in the vehicle’s latest A8 configuration.
Upon arrival in Sweden, the updated and newly manufactured tanks will be designated as Stridsvagn (STRV) 123A and 123B, respectively. Part of the fleet will fill gaps left by older Leopard 2 variants that were donated by the Nordic country to Ukraine amidst Russia’s invasion.
The overall procurement costs 20 billion kronor ($1.7 billion). Deliveries of the 123As will run from 2027 through 2030, and the 123Bs from 2028 until 2031.
“With this contract, we join a growing group of NATO allies, including Germany and Norway, who are also upgrading or acquiring this model of tank,” FMV Director General Göran Mårtensson stated.
“The modification of existing tanks also allows us to reduce Swedish solutions in the tanks and further align our capabilities with NATO in both number and capacity.”
Revamping All Swedish STRV 122 Tanks
KNDS Germany noted that the modernization part of the contract is the third agreement signed to sustain the Swedish Armed Forces’ battle tank capability, particularly the STRV 122 vehicles in service since the 1990s.
Stockholm awarded the first and second deals to the Munich-based company in 2024, which comprised 44 Leopard 2s in total, making the latest initiative cover upgrades to the military’s entire fleet of 110 STRV 122 battle tanks.
“Stridsvagn 123A and Stridsvagn 123B will be among the most modern tanks in the world,” Mårtensson said. “Compared to Stridsvagn 122, it is essentially a completely new tank, even though they may appear similar on the outside.”
The Leopard 2A8
KNDS Germany’s Leopard 2A8 main battle tank measures 11 meters (36 feet) long and is equipped with a 120-millimeter main gun, a multi-purpose grenade launcher, a machine gun, and a remote weapon station with a ground range of 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) and aerial range of 2,500 meters (8,202 feet).
The vehicle is operated by a crew of four and is powered by a 1,500-horsepower MTU engine for a top speed of 60 kilometers (37 miles) per hour and a range of 400 kilometers (249 miles).
The tank incorporates a 20-kilowatt electrical output, compartment cooling systems, all-day vision cameras, a thermal imaging and laser finder system, and a support turret.