21 February 2023

Norway orders Leopard 2A7 MBTs

by Nicholas Fiorenza

The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann signed a contract in Munich on 17 February for the delivery of 54 Leopard 2A7s to Norway in 2026–28. (NDMA)

The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) announced on 17 February that they had signed a contract in Munich the same day for the delivery of 54 Leopard 2A7s to Norway in 2026–28, with an option for 18 more main battle tanks (MBTs). The NDMA valued the contract at NOK19.7 billion (USD1.9 billion).

NDMA Director General Gro Jære said, “This contract will ensure that the armed forces in the future have a modern digitised tank that can be part of the co-operation system in the army and meets the needs of the armed forces.”

“This signing is a strong signal for European co-operation. It also underscores the tank's performance and future viability and its importance for joint defence efforts in Europe,” KMW CEO Ralf Ketzel said. He placed the project in the context of long-term international industrial co-operation with Norwegian industry.

Also on 17 February, Norwegian Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, signed a defence co-operation agreement between the two countries in Munich. Following up on Norway's decision to procure the Leopard 2A7, the agreement covers the entire defence sector, involving the Norwegian Armed Forces, the NDMA, and the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, and covering areas ranging from logistics and operations to defence equipment, and research and industrial co-operation, according to the Norwegian government website.

“An industrial co-operation agreement has also been signed, which obliges the German supplier to buy materiel from Norwegian industry corresponding to the contract sum for the purchase of tanks,” the Norwegian government added.

The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) announced on 17 Februar...

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