Spain is considering Leopard 2A8 tanks to replace "obsolete" Leopard 2A4s

By: Mykhailo Stoliar | 30.01.2025, 09:21
Leopard 2A8: Technical reincarnation of a battle tank Leopard 2A8 main battle tank. Source: Бундесвер

The Spanish army has announced plans for technical modernisation, including the possible replacement of Leopard 2A4 tanks. The Leopard 2A8 tank is being considered.

Here's What We Know

This was announced during the International Armoured Vehicle Conference 2025 (IAV 2025) in Farnborough. However, the project is still at an early stage, no final decisions have been made, and the details of the procurement have not been disclosed.

In short, Spain owns 79 Leopard 2A4 tanks, which were purchased from Germany in the late 1990s. Of the original 108 units, 29 were repaired and transferred to Ukraine, while the rest are used for training or stored in poor condition.

Leopard 2A8 - Illustration
Leopard 2A8. Illustration: Army Recognition

The backbone of the country's armoured forces is 219 Leopard 2E tanks, an improved version comparable to the Leopard 2A6. Leopard 2A4 tanks have been declared obsolete and their modernisation is not economically feasible. In addition to the new main battle tanks, Spain plans to replace outdated armoured support vehicles. These are M60-based engineering combat and bridge-building vehicles, which are to be decommissioned.

As an alternative, Spain is considering German Keiler NG vehicles from Rheinmetall. At the same time, the idea of converting Leopard 2A4s into specialised support vehicles was abandoned. Still, the newer 2A8 version is better suited for an army that wants to be on the front line.

Source: Defence Industry Europe