The Defence Materiel Agency (DMA) of Lithuania, operating under the Ministry of National Defence, has signed a contract through Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) for the procurement of 44 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks (MBTs) from KNDS Deutschland.
The contract is valued at EUR 950 million and, in addition to the Leopard 2A8 MBTs, includes a comprehensive spare parts and logistics package.
The deal was signed in collaboration with the Federal Republic of Germany, under the framework of the Common Procurement Agreement. This initiative represents a substantial enhancement to Europe’s collective defence capabilities. Additional nations are expected to participate in this collaborative procurement effort.
The process was initiated with the signing of the Purchase Confirmation by Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė, in the presence of Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. The Lithuanian armed forces will receive the latest iteration of the LEOPARD 2 main battle tank. Similar to the arrangements made for Norway and Germany, the new Leopard 2A8 will be outfitted with the APS Trophy active protection system ensuring state-of-the-art 360° protection against anti-tank missiles and drones.
Leopard 2 main battle tank
The Leopard 2 is a third-generation MBT from Germany. It was developed by Krauss-Maffei during the 1970s and was introduced into service in 1979, succeeding the earlier Leopard 1 as the primary battle tank for the West German army. Various models of the Leopard 2 are still in use by the German armed forces, along with those of 13 other European nations and several countries outside Europe, such as Canada, Chile, Indonesia, and Singapore. Some of these nations have obtained licenses to produce and further develop the Leopard 2 design domestically.
There are two primary development phases of the Leopard 2 tank. The initial phase includes tanks manufactured up to the Leopard 2A4 standard, which are distinguished by their vertically oriented turret armour. The subsequent phase, beginning with the Leopard 2A5, features an angled, arrow-shaped turret appliqué armour along with various enhancements.
All Leopard 2 tanks are equipped with a smoothbore 120 mm cannon produced by Rheinmetall, which is operated using a digital fire control system, a laser rangefinder, and sophisticated night vision and sighting technologies. The tank is powered by a V12 twin-turbo diesel engine manufactured by MTU Friedrichshafen.
During the 1990s, the German Army utilized the Leopard 2 for peacekeeping missions in Kosovo. In the 2000s, Dutch, Danish, and Canadian forces deployed their Leopard 2 tanks in the War in Afghanistan as part of their commitment to the International Security Assistance Force. In the 2010s, Turkish Leopard 2 tanks were engaged in operations in Syria. As of 2023, Ukrainian Leopard 2 tanks are actively participating in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.
Trophy Active Protection System
Trophy APS is a Hard-Kill APS designed specifically for armoured fighting vehicles. It offers advanced functionalities essential for contemporary military engagements. Having reached full maturity and being operational worldwide, this system has been deployed by NATO member states and has contributed to saving lives since its introduction in 2011. Furthermore, Trophy APS is compatible with any armoured vehicle.
Trophy APS is designed to addresses the growing complexity of anti-tank threats, which may involve simultaneous and multi-directional attacks from diverse ranges. It swiftly identifies, categorizes, engages, and neutralizes all recognized Chemical Energy (CE) and hollow-charge threats, including anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), anti-tank rockets, high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and recoilless rifles.
