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Sweden orders Leopard 2A8s, upgrades more Strv 122s

By Nicholas Fiorenza |

The FMV and KNDS Deutschland have signed contracts for 44 Leopard 2A8 MBTs and to upgrade 66 more Strv 122s (pictured). (Swedish Armed Forces)

The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and KNDS Deutschland announced on 9 January that they had signed contracts for 44 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks (MBTs) and the upgrade of 66 more Stridsvagn 122 (Strv 122) MBTs. The FMV said on its website on 9 January that the contracts were worth nearly SEK20 billion (USD1.79 billion).

Delivery schedule

The FMV signed a contract with KNDS Deutschland in Munich on 6 November 2024 for 24 Leopard 2A8s, followed by negotiations leading to a contract signing for 20 more of the MBTs on 19 December. The first batch of 24 Leopard 2A8s will replace 10 Swedish Leopard 2s donated to Ukraine.

KNDS Deutschland said in a press release that deliveries of the Leopard 2A8s, to be designated Strv 123B in Swedish service, were planned to begin in the second half of 2027. Deliveries of the Strv 123B are planned until 2031 and the upgraded Strv 122, designated Strv 123A, will be delivered from 2027 to 2030, according to the FMV.

Modernisation of the Strv 122, Sweden's designation of its Leopard 2A5 MBT, includes a higher level of protection, a new weapon system, new driving and operator concepts, an auxiliary power unit, and further digitalisation. KNDS Deutschland expected the upgrade of 66 more Strv 122s to begin upon completion of the upgrade of 44 of the tanks already contracted.

NATO tank

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