{
  "id": "leopard-2a4",
  "name": "Leopard 2A4",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "DEU",
  "category": "Main battle tank",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1985,
  "operators": [
    "AUT",
    "CAN",
    "CHL",
    "DEU",
    "DNK",
    "ESP",
    "FIN",
    "GRC",
    "NOR",
    "POL",
    "PRT",
    "SGP",
    "SWE",
    "TUR"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 14,
  "summary": "The most widespread version of the Leopard 2 family, the 2A4 models included more substantial changes, including an automated fire and explosion suppression system, an all-digital fire control system able to handle new ammunition types, and an improved turret with flat titanium/tungsten armour.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Maschinenbau Kiel",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 4,
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 3.77,
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 56,
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "MTU MB-837 Ka501 diesel",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 1500,
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_road_kmh",
      "v": 70,
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "road_range_km",
      "v": 450,
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_xc_kmh",
      "v": 50,
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording depth (Without Preparation)",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "1.0 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording depth (With Preparation)",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "4.0 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Transmission",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "Renk HSWL 354 transmission",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Loader",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Semi-automatic loading system",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Basic load",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "42 Total of any combination 120mm Projectiles ea",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Maximum elevation",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "+20 Deg",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Minimum elevation",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "-9 Deg",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fire control system",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Digitaler Ballistikkern (DigBal) digital FCS",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Computerized FCS",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Tank Commander",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Warmebildgerat X (WBG-X) thermal sight.",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Gunner",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Warmebildgerat X (WBG-X) thermal sight.",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Main Gun Stabilization",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Hydraulic and provides dual-axis stabilisation.",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Range Finder",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "EMES 15 laser rangefinder (LRF).",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Ballistic Compensator",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Field zeroing system",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hull Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "welded steel plates, with spaced multilayer passive composite armour protecting the glacis and hull sides as well as the turret front and sides.",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Turret Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "welded steel plates, with spaced multilayer passive composite armour protecting the glacis and hull sides as well as the turret front and sides.",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Applique Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes, Track Skirt",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Active Protection System",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes, Dräger Safety AG & Co",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes, KGaA CBRN protection system",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Smoke Equipment",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "MWA [Mehrfachwurfanlage] 76 mm obscurant smoke discharger system",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Grenade Launchers",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Eight grenade launchers are mounted on each side of the Turret",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "main_armament",
      "v": "120mm Rheinmetall L44 smoothbore gun",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "label": "Secondary armament",
      "v": "MG3A1",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_max_km",
      "v": 3.1,
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Maximum firing range",
      "note": "Longest-range ammunition listed"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "DM-13 (XM829) German Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discardi",
      "role": "120 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "1,750 m/s",
        "Armor penetration": "230 mm"
      },
      "range_km": 3,
      "qty": "42 Total of any combination 120mm Projectiles"
    },
    {
      "name": "DM-12 (M325) : High-Explosive Anti-Tank Multi-Purpose (HEAT-",
      "role": "120 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "1,078 m/s"
      },
      "range_km": 3.1,
      "qty": "42 Total of any combination 120mm Projectiles"
    },
    {
      "name": "DM53 120mm KE Projectile (Rheinmetall)",
      "role": "120 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "1,750 m/s"
      },
      "qty": "42 Total of any combination 120mm Projectiles"
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Leopard 2A1",
      "text": "Minor modifications and the installation of the gunner's thermal sight[1] were worked into the second batch of 450 vehicles Leopard 2, designated the A1. Krauss-Maffei built 248 (Chassis Nr. 10211 to 10458) and Mak built",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Leopard 2A2",
      "text": "This designation was given to upgraded vehicles of the first batch of Leopard 2s, brought up to the standard of the second and third batches. This modernisation gradually replaced the original PZB 200 sights in the first",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Leopard 2A3",
      "text": "The fourth batch of 300 vehicles, 165 by Krauss-Maffei (Chassis Nr. 10624 to 10788) and 135 by Mak (Chassis Nr. 20510 to 20644), was delivered between December 1984 and December 1985. The main change was the addition of ",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Leopard 2",
      "text": "The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the 1970s for the West German Army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army.",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Leopard 2 Marksman",
      "text": "Finland has modernised its Marksman SPAAG vehicles by replacing the original T-55AM chassis with a newer Leopard 2A4 chassis. The upgraded Marksman vehicles were scheduled to enter service with the Finnish Army in 2016. ",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Leopard 2A5",
      "text": "\"Leopard 2 Improved\" was a prototype-series for enhancing the A4, introducing a wedge-shaped, spaced add-on armour to the turret front and the frontal area of the sides. These spaced armour modules defeat a hollow charge",
      "src": [
        "weg-leopard-2a4"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "tank",
  "image": {
    "file": "leopard-2a4.jpg",
    "thumb": "leopard-2a4-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Silar",
    "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:02022_0582_Leopard_2PL_tank.jpg",
    "title": "File:02022 0582 Leopard 2PL tank.jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY-SA 4.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/leopard-2a4.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-leopard-2a4": {
      "title": "Leopard 2A4 German Main Battle Tank (MBT)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Leopard_2A4_German_Main_Battle_Tank",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}