Leonardo and KNDS set sights on Leopard MBT via cooperation agreement
Italy has been looking to buy 125 Leopard 2A8 MBTs. (Photo: US Army)
In July the Italian Government said it was planning to buy 125 German Leopard MBT and in November Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani said the company was looking to get involved in the programme to upgrade the tanks.
Italy’s Leonardo and Franco-Germany KNDS, which includes Krauss Maffei Wegmann, will work to improve cooperation with support of the Italian MoD and have signed an agreement to jointly implement the planned Italian Leopard 2A8 MBT procurement programme.
The alliance will support the strategy defined by the Italian MoD in the Documento Programmatico Difesa (Defence Policy Document) 2023–25 and in the Action Plan of the Agreement recently signed by the governments of Italy and Germany.
The two companies have also signed an agreement to jointly implement the planned MBT procurement programme focusing on the maintenance of the Leopard 2A8 for the Italian Army and support platforms.
The Italian MoD has been working on two major programs for the renewal of its land forces: firstly, the procurement of the Leopard MBT with support vehicles and, secondly, new infantry fighting vehicles under the Armoured Infantry Combat System plus combat support systems.
Shephard Defence Insight noted the Leopard 2A8 would feature new generation multi-layered armour made of steel, tungsten, composite filler and ceramic components.
The 2A8 will also be expected to feature enhanced mine protection and improvements to the turret roof to protect against top attack anti-tank weapons.
The tank has been equipped with a version of the Israeli Trophy active protection system (APS) referred to as the EuroTrophy.
More from Land Warfare
-
![DSEI 2025: Polaris displays new all-terrain vehicle with Alakran mortar system]()
DSEI 2025: Polaris displays new all-terrain vehicle with Alakran mortar system
The Polaris Government and Defense’s Military RZR (MRZR) Alpha 1KW was displayed at the Modern Day Marine exposition in the US earlier this year and with the Alakran mobile mortar weapon system at DSEI. The company outlined recent firing trials with the Alakran mobile mortar weapon system (MMWS) which was weeks after the company announced a major NATO deal.
-
![DSEI 2025: Thales creating new remote weapon station and Storm 2 counter-drone jammer]()
DSEI 2025: Thales creating new remote weapon station and Storm 2 counter-drone jammer
Thales launched Storm-H in 2012 as an EW system equipping individual dismounted troops, and a decade later revealed details to develop the improved and more powerful Storm 2.
-
![The integration between drones and land vehicles is accelerating]()
The integration between drones and land vehicles is accelerating
Drones and military ground vehicles are increasingly being designed to operate together as a single platform or even to convert crewed systems to automated ones.
-
![Denmark shuns US platform as it settles on SAMP/T air defence system]()
Denmark shuns US platform as it settles on SAMP/T air defence system
The acquisition, which is part of the country’s broader defence package worth DKK58 billion (US$9.2 billion), goes against the grain with many other European countries opting for the US’s popular Patriot platform.
