Originally posted on Army Recognition The Norwegian defense procurement agency NDMA has contracted Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG (KMW) to supply 54 of its latest Leopard 2A7 main battle tanks, designated Leopard 2A7NO. The deliveries are planned from 2026 to 2028. The necessary agreements for this were signed in Munich on February 17, including the option for an additional 18 Leopard 2A7NO tanks.

KMW CEO Ralf Ketzel made the following statement upon finalizing the contract: “This signing represents a powerful indication of European collaboration. It also highlights the tank’s performance and future potential, as well as its significance for joint defense efforts in Europe. KMW is grateful for the trust. We look forward to the project and consequently to long-term international industrial cooperation with the Norwegian industry.”

In fact, Army Recognition already published the announcement of this impending acquisition on February 3, 2023, but the information has now been made official. Norway’s existing fleet of 52 Leopard 2A4s was purchased from the Netherlands in 2001 and has since been modified to meet Norwegian army requirements, which include new radios, ωeapon racks, and Battlefield Management Systems, resulting in their re-designation as Leopard 2A4NO. According to the Military Balance 2021, Norway’s army still has a total of 36 operational Leopard 2A4s, with 16 more in storage. The remaining Leopard 2A4s are approaching the end of their technical and operational lifespan. To maintain their serviceability until the new Leopard 2A7s arrive, procurement of essential components and spare parts will be conducted.

The Leopard 2A7 is an upgraded version of the Leopard 2A6 main battle tank. The primary features of this new enhancement of the Leopard 2 tank include new armor, an energy system, a crew compartment cooling system, and a new ωeapon engagement system. Note that the Leopard 2A7 is fundamentally distinct from the KMW variant 2A7+ and is not optimized for combat in urban settings.

The first Leopard 2A7 tanks were delivered to the German army in December 2014. A total of 14 vehicles were produced for Tank Battalion 203, with an additional 4 designated for the Armoured Corps Training Centre and 1 vehicle assigned to the Technical School for Land Systems and School for Technology of the Army.