Leopard 3
Main battle tank
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Leopard 3, also known as the Leopard 2AX,[3] is a fourth-generation German main battle tank (MBT).[4][5]
| Leopard 3 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Production history | |
| Designer | KNDS Deutschland, Rheinmetall and Hensoldt[1] |
| Designed | Since 2025[2] |
| Developed from | Leopard 2A8 |
| Produced | Expected in the 2030s |
| Specifications | |
| Crew | 3 (driver, gunner, commander) |
| Shell | DM11, DM13, DM23 |
| Shell weight | 30 kg (66 lb) |
| Caliber | 130mm |
| Effective firing range | 10 km (6.2 mi) |
Main armament | 130mm Rheinmetall L/51 smoothbore gun |
Germany plans to procure the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) as a successor to the Leopard 2 (current variants 2A5, 2A6, 2A7, and upcoming variant 2A8). Since the MGCS is not expected to be ready before the 2040s, the German Army expressed a requirement for an interim solution to address immediate operational needs. The development of the Leopard 3 was kicked off in Early 2025 and it is expected to enter production in the early 2030s.[6][7][8] It is designed with a service life of 25 years.[9] As of July 2025, the German Army has expressed a total requirement for 1,000 additional tanks, which would be composed of a mix of Leopard 2A8, Leopard 3, and MGCS units.[10]
Design
Early design information
The changes that were mentioned from the Leopard 2A8 include:[9]
- A new tank gun: Rheinmetall Rh-130 L/51 with a 50% increased kinetic energy compared to the Rh-120.
- Munitions:[9][11]
- DM11 (130 mm variant), a multifunctional combat ammunition (HE) for fire support
- DM13, standard APFSDS (Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot)
- DM23, higher energy APFSDS
- A new engine from Liebherr.[9][12] KNDS Deutschland received a contract to offer an alternative engine with the project OLYMP, with the aim to improve the mobility. The project OLYMP also includes a transmission, steering, and cooling systems.
- Hensoldt would supply the MUSS 2.0 countermeasure system against modern ATGM.[9][13]
- Remote turret with an automatic loader and a crew of three people.
Operators
Potential operators
Germany- The German Army operates 295 tanks as of 2025:
- 19 Leopard 2A5 KWS II
- 68 Leopard 2A6
- 34 Leopard 2A6 A3
- 20 Leopard 2A6M
- 50 Leopard 2A6 MA3
- 104 Leopard 2A7V
- The German Army ordered:
- Future plans:
- As of July 2025, the German Army plans to order up to 1,000 additional MBT.[10] This would likely include a mix of Leopard 2A8 (because the production started), the intermediate solution of the Leopard 2AX / Leopard 3 and the MGCS.[10]
