Berlin dramatically scaled back its defense spending after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. However, it is now assuming a far greater role in NATO’s defense.
Germany remains committed to bolstering its military strength, increasing defense spending, and initiating the largest purchase of main battle tanks and other armored vehicles. The German-language newspaper Handelsblatt first reported that Berlin is exploring the acquisition of up to 1,000 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks, along with 2,500 Boxer wheeled armored vehicles and several hundred Puma infantry fighting vehicles.
Bloomberg, citing German sources, valued the proposed deal at 25 billion euros ($29 billion). The vehicles would be used to equip up to seven new brigades that Berlin had pledged to form. The units would be part of NATO’s force generation initiative.
Berlin had dramatically scaled back its defense spending after the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. However, it is now assuming a far greater role in NATO’s defense—including a permanent deployment of military personnel and armored vehicles to Lithuania, the first such forward positioning of its soldiers on foreign soil since World War II.
“Germany’s military doctrine has historically emphasized restraint and multilateralism, shaped by the lessons of the 20th century,” explained Army Recognition. It was Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that “triggered a seismic shift in Berlin’s strategic calculus.”
At last month’s NATO summit in The Hague, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius committed to the newly adopted pledge by alliance members to spend at least five percent of their respective gross domestic product (GDP) on defense by 2035. After years of falling far below the two percent rate agreed upon by NATO in 2024, Germany’s defense spending reached 1.4 percent in 2024, the highest since 1958. That was a 28 percent increase from the previous year, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Germany spent $88.5 billion on defense last year, making it the fourth-largest military spender in the world.
What Are the Capabilities of Germany’s Upgraded Leopard Tank?
The German Leopard 2A8 is regarded as one of the most advanced main battle tanks in service today. Although a few Leopard 2s have been lost in the fighting in Ukraine, reports suggest that the MBTs have withstood a great deal of punishment while offering greater survivability for their crews.
Based on the Leopard 2A7+, the new model is outfitted with several notable improvements, including the “Trophy” Active Protection System and a better all-around (360-degree) awareness system. The upgraded variant features the newest generation of passive multi-layer composite modular armor, comprising steel, tungsten, composite filler, and even ceramics.
The 2A8 model is fitted with a three-man turret that houses the main 120mm L55 smoothbore gun produced by Rheinmetall AG. This is an upgraded version of the L44 gun, which was installed on previous models of the Leopard 2. The L55 is reported to be approximately 1.3 meters (4.2 feet) longer, which enables it to achieve higher muzzle velocities and offers greater accuracy, range, and penetration. The improved gun can fire a variety of ordnance, including APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot), HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank), and multipurpose ammunition.
The overall layout of the modernized tanks is similar to other models. It is powered by an upgraded 1,600 hp engine, which allows the Leopard 2A8 to reach speeds exceeding 70 kilometers per hour (44 miles per hour).
Germany will not be the sole operator of the Leopard 2A8, either. Multiple NATO members are seeking to buy the advanced MBTs, including the Netherlands, which will once again field a tank battalion for the first time since the end of the Cold War. Lithuania is also forming a new tank battalion with 44 Leopard 2A8s. Norway, Sweden, and Croatia have either committed to purchasing the 2A8 variants or expressed interest, indicating a potential purchase could be forthcoming soon.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
