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The Leopard 3, also known as the Leopard 2AX,[3] is a fourth-generation German main battle tank (MBT).[4][5]

Germany plans to procure the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) as a successor to the Leopard 2 (current variants 2A5, 2A6, 2A7, and upcoming variant 2A8). Since the MGCS is not expected to be ready before the 2040s, the German Army expressed a requirement for an interim solution to address immediate operational needs. The development of the Leopard 3 was kicked off in Early 2025 and it is expected to enter production in the early 2030s.[6][7][8] It is designed with a service life of 25 years.[9] As of July 2025, the German Army has expressed a total requirement for 1,000 additional tanks, which would be composed of a mix of Leopard 2A8, Leopard 3, and MGCS units.[10]

Design

Early design information

The changes that were mentioned from the Leopard 2A8 include:[9]

  • A new tank gun: Rheinmetall Rh-130 L/51 [de] with a 50% increased kinetic energy compared to the Rh-120.
  • Munitions:[9][11]
  • A new engine from Liebherr.[9][12] KNDS Deutschland received a contract to offer an alternative engine with the project OLYMP, with the aim to improve the mobility. The project OLYMP also includes a transmission, steering, and cooling systems.
  • Hensoldt would supply the MUSS 2.0 countermeasure system against modern ATGM.[9][13]
  • Remote turret with an automatic loader and a crew of three people.

Operators

Potential operators

Germany
The German Army operates 312 tanks as of 2026:
The German Army ordered:
Future plans:
  • As of July 2025, the German Army plans to order up to 1,000 additional MBTs.[10] This would likely include a mix of Leopard 2A8 (of which production has started), the intermediate solution of the Leopard 2AX / Leopard 3 and the MGCS.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ “Bundeswehr commissions development of 130mm ammunition as well as new protection system and engine for Leopard 2 main battle tanks” (in German). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  2. ^ “Germany Kicks Off Work On Leopard 3 Main Battle Tank”. twz.com. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  3. ^ Triffaux. “Germany Develops Next-Gen Leopard 2AX as Alternative to Joint MGCS Project and Existing Leopard 2A8 Tank”. armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  4. ^ Germany Kicks Off Work On Leopard 3 Main Battle Tank
  5. ^ YouTube: The Leopard 3 main battle tank is coming soon
  6. ^ Newdick, Thomas (2025-02-07). “Germany Kicks Off Work On Leopard 3 Main Battle Tank”. The War Zone. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  7. ^ The ” Leopard 3″ is emerging as the real German interim tank for 2030
  8. ^ YouTube: Leopard 3 – the future German main battle tank
  9. ^ a b c d e “Bundeswehr beauftrag Entwicklung von 130mm-Munition sowie neuem Schutzsystem und Triebwerk für Leopard 2 Kampfpanzer” (in German). 2025-02-05. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  10. ^ a b c Lagneau, Laurent (2025-07-05). “Berlin envisage d’acquérir 1 000 chars Leopard et 2 500 blindés Boxer supplémentaires pour 25 milliards d’euros”. Zone Militaire (in French). Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  11. ^ sam (2025-02-06). “Germany initiates development of Leopard 3 -“. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  12. ^ “Entwicklung des Leopard 2 AX beauftragt » Sicherheit & Verteidigung” (in German). 2025-02-06. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  13. ^ “MUSS 2.0”. HENSOLDT. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  14. ^ “Germany to buy Leopard tanks, howitzers to make up for Ukraine supplies – source”. Reuters. 2023-05-24. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  15. ^ “Bundeswehr erhält 105 zusätzliche Leopard 2 A8 Kampfpanzer” (in German). 2024-07-03. Retrieved 2024-07-04.