The German Federal Ministry of Defense has announced that the German parliament approved two submissions in the total amount of $484 million (€ 428 million) for increasing capabilities of the German Bundeswehr.
The main part of this amount should be directed to the upgrade by 2026 of an additional 101 Leopard 2A6 and Leopard 2A6M2 main battle tanks of the German army in the newest modification of Leopard 2A7V.
“101 Main Battle Tank Leopard 2 variants A6M A2 and A6 are to be brought to a similar design level as the latest version Leopard 2 A7V. The aim is to adapt to the Leopard 2 A7V in terms of operation and logistics,” said in Federal Ministry of Defense statement.
“The tanks’ systems will be standardized to make them more effective, increase protection, and allow for the exchange of crews,” added in a statement.
According to media reports in recent weeks, the Leopard 2A7V is the latest version of German-made main battle tank (MBT) in the Leopard 2 family. The new version is developed by German weapons maker Rheinmetall.
Rheinmetall will be transforming a total of 101 main battle tanks, bringing them up to A7V standard. In the process, Rheinmetall specialists will be eliminating obsolescent features in the fire control computers and control consoles as well as installing a new laser rangefinder and thermal imaging device.
All upgraded Leopard 2A7V tanks will be capable of using Rheinmetall’s new programmable DM11 multipurpose round.
Another part of the approved allocations is allocated for the purchase of over 30,000 pieces of 155 mm ammunition for the Panzerhaubitze (PzH) 2000 self-propelled howitzer.