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Land ForcesGermany

Leopard 2A4

Main battle tankFielded 1985Pending verification
Land ForcesDEU
Leopard 2A4
Photo: Silar · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeMain battle tank
Date of introduction1985
ProliferationAt least 14 countries
ManufacturerKrauss-Maffei Wegmann Maschinenbau KielMed[1]
Crew4Med[1]
Dimensions and weight
Width3.77 m12 ftMed[1]
Combat weight56 tMed[1]
Automotive performance
EngineMTU MB-837 Ka501 dieselMed[1]
Engine power1,500 hpMed[1]
Max road speed70 km/h43 mph · 38 ktMed[1]
Cruising range450 km280 mi · 243 nmiMed[1]
Cross-country speed50 km/h31 mph · 27 ktMed[1]
Fording depth (Without Preparation)1.0 mMed[1]
Fording depth (With Preparation)4.0 mMed[1]
TransmissionRenk HSWL 354 transmissionMed[1]
Protection
Hull Armorwelded steel plates, with spaced multilayer passive composite armour protecting the glacis and hull sides as well as the turret front and sides.Med[1]
Turret Armorwelded steel plates, with spaced multilayer passive composite armour protecting the glacis and hull sides as well as the turret front and sides.Med[1]
Applique ArmorYes, Track SkirtMed[1]
Active Protection SystemYes, Dräger Safety AG & CoMed[1]
NBC ProtectionYes, KGaA CBRN protection systemMed[1]
Smoke EquipmentMWA [Mehrfachwurfanlage] 76 mm obscurant smoke discharger systemMed[1]
Grenade LaunchersEight grenade launchers are mounted on each side of the TurretMed[1]
Armament
LoaderSemi-automatic loading systemMed[1]
Basic load42 Total of any combination 120mm Projectiles eaMed[1]
Maximum elevation+20 DegMed[1]
Minimum elevation-9 DegMed[1]
Main armament120mm Rheinmetall L44 smoothbore gunMed[1]
Secondary armamentMG3A1Med[1]
Maximum firing range3.1 km2 mi · 2 nmiLongest-range ammunition listedMed[1]
Fire control
Fire control systemDigitaler Ballistikkern (DigBal) digital FCSMed[1]
Computerized FCSYesMed[1]
Thermal Sight Tank CommanderWarmebildgerat X (WBG-X) thermal sight.Med[1]
Thermal Sight GunnerWarmebildgerat X (WBG-X) thermal sight.Med[1]
Main Gun StabilizationHydraulic and provides dual-axis stabilisation.Med[1]
Range FinderEMES 15 laser rangefinder (LRF).Med[1]
Ballistic CompensatorField zeroing systemMed[1]
Variants
Leopard 2A1Minor 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[1]
Leopard 2A2This 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[1]
Leopard 2A3The 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 [1]
Leopard 2The 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.[1]
Leopard 2 MarksmanFinland 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. [1]
Leopard 2A5"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[1]
Weapons and payload options · 3Confidence · Source
DM-13 (XM829) German Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discardi120 mm ammunition
Med[1]
Range
3 km2 mi · 2 nmi
Quantity
42 Total of any combination 120mm Projectiles
Muzzle velocity
1,750 m/s
Armor penetration
230 mm
DM-12 (M325) : High-Explosive Anti-Tank Multi-Purpose (HEAT-120 mm ammunition
Med[1]
Range
3.1 km2 mi · 2 nmi
Quantity
42 Total of any combination 120mm Projectiles
Muzzle velocity
1,078 m/s
DM53 120mm KE Projectile (Rheinmetall)120 mm ammunition
Med[1]
Quantity
42 Total of any combination 120mm Projectiles
Muzzle velocity
1,750 m/s
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.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
AustriaCanadaChileGermanyDenmarkSpainFinlandGreeceNorwayPolandPortugalSingaporeSwedenTürkiye
Sources
  1. Leopard 2A4 German Main Battle Tank (MBT), U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import
  • 2026-10-10 Added photo (CC BY-SA 4.0)