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Germany Legacy KNDS
Leopard 2A4
The most widely produced Leopard 2 variant, forming the backbone of many European and export armies for decades. It introduced an all-digital fire control system and improved turret armor over the original A1-A3 batches.
In service since 1985 · 15 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
68
km/h
550
km range
19.4
hp/t
120
mm gun
55,150
kg
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
German export-licensed
BAFA licensing with strict end-use review; approvals can be politically constrained.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 15 operators
In service since 1985. Status: legacy · ~2,125 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the Leopard 2A4 can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Powerplant
The Leopard 2A4's engine has its own full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 68 km/h |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 550 km |
| Power-to-weight Engine power per tonne of vehicle weight. Higher means better acceleration and cross-country mobility. | 19.4 hp/t |
| Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration. | 1,650 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 120 mm Rheinmetall L/44 smoothbore |
|---|---|
| Secondary armament Additional weapons: coaxial MG, remote weapon station, gun pods. | 2x 7.62 mm MG3 machine guns |
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 120 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 42 |
Protection
Armor, countermeasures and survivability.
| Armor Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified. | Composite armor with spaced turret modules |
|---|---|
| Reactive armor Explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks that disrupt shaped-charge jets. | No |
| Countermeasures Self-protection: chaff, flares, DIRCM, towed decoys, smoke dischargers, jammers. | smoke grenade launchers |
| NBC protection Sealed crew compartment with overpressure filtration for nuclear/biological/chemical environments. | Yes |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 9.67 m |
|---|---|
| Width Overall width, matters for rail/road transport of vehicles. | 3.7 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 2.79 m |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 55,150 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 4 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | MTU MB 873 Ka-501 V12 twin-turbo diesel |
|---|---|
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 1,500 hp |
| Fuel capacity Internal fuel volume. | 1,200 L |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Diesel |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | EMES 15 fire control |
|---|---|
| Thermal imaging Thermal sights for night and obscured-visibility operations. | Yes |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 2,125 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 15 |
Specifications compiled from public KNDS and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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KNDS Leclerc XLR Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the KNDS Leopard 2A4? +
The KNDS Leopard 2A4 has a maximum speed of 68 km/h.
What is the range of the KNDS Leopard 2A4? +
The KNDS Leopard 2A4 has a maximum range of 550 km.
How much does the KNDS Leopard 2A4 weigh? +
The KNDS Leopard 2A4 has a combat weight of 55,150 kg.
How many crew does the KNDS Leopard 2A4 require? +
The KNDS Leopard 2A4 requires a crew of 4.
What is the main armament of the KNDS Leopard 2A4? +
The KNDS Leopard 2A4's primary weapon is the 120 mm Rheinmetall L/44 smoothbore.
What engine does the KNDS Leopard 2A4 use? +
The KNDS Leopard 2A4 is powered by the MTU MB 873 Ka-501 V12 twin-turbo diesel.
What is the KNDS Leopard 2A4 used for? +
The KNDS Leopard 2A4 is a main battle tank typically used for anti armor, infantry combat.
How many countries operate the KNDS Leopard 2A4? +
The KNDS Leopard 2A4 is operated by 15 countries.
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