The current wars have brought the importance of the battle tank back into focus as an assertive tool in the hands of the troop leader. At the same time, new threats – particularly from the air – became apparent. For more than ten years, Germany and France have been designing a successor system for the Leopard 2 and Leclerc main battle tanks in the joint “Main Ground Combat System” (MGCS) project, which takes the new image of war into account with a new technological approach.
The time frame for the introduction of the MGCS is being pushed further and further back. Equipping the force is expected to begin in 2045. The official completion date is 2050. This means a useful life of 20 to 30 years for the systems that are now in service or will be put into service in the foreseeable future. What options are there to maintain the combat value of the Leopard 2 in order to achieve a seamless transition to the MGCS?
Current equipment of the army
Over the last thirty years, the Army has reduced the number of Leopard 2 main battle tanks from 2,125 tanks to a low of 312 to 328 combat vehicles. After 18 tanks were handed over to Ukraine at the beginning of 2023, the number fell to 310. There is now talk of increasing the tank fleet by around 100 vehicles to over 400 Leopard 2s.
Based on the “Mannheim configuration”, with which 350 tanks were converted to the A5 and A6 versions in the first basic combat performance upgrade from 1995, the second basic combat performance upgrade to the A7 standard will be added to the force with deliveries from 2021. The Leopard 2 A7 was created from the return of the Leopard 2 A6M that had been loaned to Canada. For this purpose, battle tanks from the Dutch inventory were converted to German design standards by Krauss-Maffei Wegman (now KNDS Germany). The German side was able to use the opportunity to eliminate obsolescence and improve combat performance.
Combat value upgrades Leopard 2 A7
• Weapon system with L52A1 tube and HE adjustment
• Energy and combat space cooling system (EKKA)
• new power generator unit (20 kW)
• Ultracaps (in hull and tower)
• Barracuda thermal protection
• new on-board communication system
• Modified fire suppression system
• Peri R17 A3 with 3rd generation thermal imaging device
• adapted holders for hand weapons
The 20 affected main battle tanks joined the force in 2014 as Leopard 2 A7s. The configuration was the starting point for the numerically more extensive conversion to the Leopard 2 A7V. With a contract from May 2017, a total of 104 main battle tanks were converted. Vehicles from industry, the Dutch army and 20 Leopard 2 A7s were used for this purpose. Compared to the Bundeswehr's most modern tanks, further improvements were made, hence the "V" in the version name. Three major changes justify the “V”: newly built steel tubs, bow protection on the chassis and the reinforcement of the drive train. In addition, there is once again the elimination of obsolescence, new ATTICA thermal imaging devices and Spectus night vision devices at the front and rear for the driver. The last Leopard 2 A7V was handed over to the force in October 2023.
In order to achieve the greatest possible equality in training and logistics, operational readiness should be maintained for the rest of the tank fleet. Due to limited budget resources, only 50 A6 and 51 A6M (together 101 Leopard A6) could be included in the measure. The armor module on the tank's bow, the energy and combat compartment cooling system and the new power generator unit as well as the holder for the additional armor were not implemented. The conversion began with the contract from March 2019. In order not to put too much strain on the troops, an extended schedule was agreed with deliveries until 2025. The first Leopard 2 with the version designation A6A3 went into service in July 2021. Around 80 percent of the planned tanks should currently have been delivered.
No conversion is currently planned for 88 Leopard 2 in the A5 and A6 versions. They will remain in the force until a decision has been made about their future.
New versions A7A1 and A8
With a contract dated March 2021, 17 Leopard 2 A6s (one company equivalent plus reserve) will receive Rafael's APS TROPHY active protection system. As part of the APS upgrade, the tanks will be upgraded to A7V status. The A7A1 can be recognized externally by the attachments with electronics and launchers on both sides of the turret as well as four attached radar devices. The inflow is agreed for the period 2024 to 2025.
After the delivery of 18 Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine in March 2023, a contract for replacement was concluded in May 2023 (just a quarter of a year after approval by the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag). Surprising to most observers, the tanks were given the version designation Leopard 2 A8. The BMVg plans to order the procurement of a further 35 Leopard 2 A8s later this year. This is intended to equip the combat brigade that the Bundeswehr is setting up in Lithuania. When you look at the technical features, it's difficult to find reasons for the new version name. The significant changes lie beneath the surface, so to speak.
While the new buildings were previously created using the existing construction drawings, the designs for the hull and tower have been revised using modern design methods. Obsolete fixtures that are no longer needed have been removed. This saves space and saves weight. The integration of the assemblies that are necessary for the tank to function is made easier. In addition to simply eliminating obsolescence, the digitization of all assemblies is being pushed forward because analog assemblies and elements are no longer available for the foreseeable future and no longer offer sufficient performance. Some of these assemblies will not be backwards compatible. In addition, the first elements of the NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture are being implemented. NGVA is the vehicle infrastructure defined as a NATO standard for the distribution of energy and information. The Leopard 2 A8 are scheduled to be delivered between 2025 and 2026. With the measures described, around two thirds of the Leopard 2 fleet have increased their combat value to the A7 or A8 standards.
Bridge to the Main Ground Combat System
For the 88 main battle tanks that remain below the A7 standard, a solution must be found to maintain dueling capability until the introduction of the MGCS. Leopard 2 AX is often used as a working term. In addition to equipping the required capabilities according to the known model, another possibility opens up, which has not yet been included in the planning process and whose financing has not yet been promised: separating out the existing tanks and procuring new ones. The starting point is the hulls and towers redeveloped for the A8. If possible, components are used for the equipment that have already reached the required level of maturity as part of the development of the MGCS. A larger caliber on-board cannon (130 mm or 140 mm) with an automatic loading device is unlikely to be included. This probably requires too much intervention in the existing construction. This would mean that the AX would receive a (small) part of the capabilities that are realized with the MGCS and would be suitable as a bridge technology until sufficient operational readiness is achieved with the MGCS.
Given the known timelines for development and procurement and the financing that has not yet been planned, implementation cannot be expected until the beginning of the next decade at the earliest.
According to procurement circles, the Bundeswehr is considering increasing the size of the Leopard 2 fleet by around 100 tanks to a total of over 400 tanks. Apart from the number, other details could not be verified. There are two options: the procurement of even more Leopard 2 A8s as part of the May 2023 framework agreement in addition to those ordered so far. The other option is to increase the number of Leopard 2 AX accordingly.
System change with the Main Ground Combat System
In 2012, Germany and France launched the binational “Main Ground Combat System” (MGCS) project to replace the Leopard 2 and Leclerc main battle tanks. After identifying over 300 high level requirements in the first phase of the project and taking into account framework conditions such as limiting the vehicle weight to 50 tons and reducing the number of existing personnel, the result was a multi-platform concept with distributed capabilities across manned and unmanned platforms, which was conceptually described in phase 2. Three platforms have been described so far: a manned carrier each for an on-board cannon with an automatic loading device (caliber not yet determined) (Gun Platform) and for another effector (e.g. high-speed missile) (Missile Platform) and an unmanned carrier (Combat Support Platform). with additional effectors for the use of non-line of sight and counter-UAV as well as reconnaissance equipment, including remote sensors on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Unmanned Ground Vehicles.
For tactical and logistical reasons, the vehicles are in the same weight class and use the same hull. In Phase 3, which is currently underway, the system architecture is being defined. This is followed by the six-year research and technology phase to develop demonstrators for the main technologies. In April, the defense ministers of Germany and France agreed to divide the work into eight technology pillars and divide it equally between the two nations. A project company yet to be founded consisting of KNDS Germany, KNDS France, Rheinmetall and Thales TIX will continue the development as the main contractor from 2025. Another four years are needed to produce and test a system demonstrator for the complete system and decide on a series configuration. Seven to ten years are planned for the preparation of production and use. This includes technical checks and operational tests. The aim is the phase document “Authorization for Use”, which allows use in the troops. The time calculation shows that the introduction of the MGCS cannot be expected before 2041. Taking into account possible delays in the project process, the mid-2040s is a realistic introduction date.
The force needs two to three years to reach initial operational capability. It will take another two years to achieve full operational capability with the MGCS. Then the year 2050 began.
Eleven years after the first vehicles were delivered, the Puma infantry fighting vehicle was declared “tactical combat capability”. To date, the tanks have not yet been fully equipped with all their capabilities. The MGCS will require a similar amount of time. This means that the Leopard 2s that are in use today and will be converted or replaced in the coming years have a useful life of more than twenty years.
Overview
Three development strands of the Leopard 2 lead to the Main Ground Combat System. The standard Leopard 2 A7 with the versions A7V, A7A1, A6A3/A6MA3 has already been introduced, and delivery to the troops will be completed in 2025. The second strand is the A8 version, which will be completed by 2026 if the planned increase in the number of units with the A8 is not realized. The third strand is the Leopard 2 AX, built with the first MGCS components, which – assuming appropriate decisions and financing – could enter the force from around 2030. As shown, the MGCS is scheduled to be introduced no later than 2045 and will replace the Leopard 2 after almost seventy years of service.
Even after this point, the Leopard 2 will not disappear for a long time. More than 3,800 Leopard 2s are currently in use in 20 nations. These cannot be taken out of use during the period under consideration for various reasons.
Gerhard Heiming
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