- Norway will acquire 54 Leopard 2A8 MBTs to boost its armoured force
- KNDS Deutschland is producing the first 17 as part of a workshare agreement
- Norway’s ‘NO’-variant adds upgraded electronics in collaboration with Kongsberg
Production is underway at the KNDS-RITEK site in Levanger for the manufacture of Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks (MBTs) for the Norwegian Army, part of an agreed workshare between KNDS Deutschland and Norway.
Following an 18-month-long process to develop the Levanger site, production of the first of 37 future Norwegian Army Leopard 2A8 MBTs began on 15 October, according to a KNDS release. The facility has a capacity of up to 36 tanks per year.
Norway had earlier signed a deal to acquire 54 new Leopard 2A8 tanks, with the first two German-manufactured MBTs delivered in April this year.
Markus Helm, CFO of KNDS Deutschland, said the beginning of the build of Norway’s new MBTs at the Levanger site was an “important contribution” to both the country’s and Nato’s defence readiness.
According to an early-May release from KNDS, the new Norwegian tank manufacturing facility will be able to integrate production and testing and will include specialised test sites such as a laser track, steep slopes, and a diving pool.
The introduction of the Leopard 2A8 MBT into Norway’s forces follows a pattern of Leopard series tank usage, with the Norwegian Army already operating the Leopard 2A4 and Leopard 2A5 MBTs. In 2023, Norway donated eight of its Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine.
What is the Leopard 2A8 NO?
The Leopard 2A8 builds on the Leopard 2A7 MBT with the integration of Rafael’s Trophy active protection system (APS) as standard, considered to be critical in modern combat operations as threats proliferate.
Both variants use Rheinmetall’s 120mm L55A1 smoothbore gun, the same weapon system being integrated onto the UK’s Challenger 3 MBT.
An earlier 2025 KNDS release outlined how Norway’s 2A8 NO tank fleet might differ from other operators’, with the disclosure that the German company was “working closely” with Kongsberg on the “comprehensive modernisation of the [tank’s] electronic system”.
As such, the new electronics configuration would “redesign data transfer” within Norway’s Leopard 2A8 NO-variant MBTs, as well as communication with other combat systems.
The latest 2A8 variant counts Germany (up to 200 units), Norway (54), Sweden (44), the Czech Republic (44), and the Netherlands (46) as current customers.
In Europe, 18 nations already utilise the Leopard 2 MBT family, with a further five non-European users.
