First Leopard 2 A7 tank delivered to Germany

The first of 20 Leopard 2 A7 tanks has been handed over to the German Army by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). The vehicle was officially accepted on 10 December.

The Leopard 2 A7 is an upgraded version of the Leopard 2 A6M tank. The vehicle features optimised protection against asymmetrical and conventional threats, and an auxiliary power unit to ensure that the weapons system is fully operational even without a running main engine and that turret and crew compartment are kept cool.

The vehicle is integrated into the control network via the combat troops control and weapons deployment system; it also uses advanced sighting equipment for improved reconnaissance capabilities; and has the ability to fire fuze-programmable high explosive ammunition.

The Leopard 2 A7 is a product of collaboration between multiple NATO partners and KMW. The Canadian military borrowed 20 Leopard 2 A6Ms from Germany as part of the ISAF mandate in 2007, with KMW adapting the vehicles to meet Canadian specifications. When it was time to return the vehicles, Canada acquired surplus Leopard A6M tanks from the Netherlands, which were to be converted to the design status of the loaned German vehicles. As part of this conversion work under Canadian and German agreement further modifications were made resulting in the Leopard 2 A7 for the German Army.

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