European armies currently have 6,450 main battle tanks. However, many of these have long since been mothballed and a large number are in urgent need of modernization. So it’s no wonder that tanks are at the top of procurers’ shopping lists and around 1,700 vehicles are on manufacturers’ order books.
The Ukraine war shows consequences
Before we look at the procurement plans in detail, let us turn our attention to Ukraine. The Russian war of aggression (-> current news from the Ukraine war) and the increasingly massive use of drones have had a lasting impact on the procurement strategies of many armed forces. The US Army already adapted its modernization plans for the M1 Abrams to the new circumstances in September 2023.
Since the development of the new Abrams M1A2 SEPv4 variant was no longer considered sustainable, the Army cancelled the program in favor of a more comprehensive modernization. The design of the Abrams, which will be known as the M1E3 in future, is to be finalized by the end of 2025. It will then be clear how the US Army wants to shape its “iron fist” for the battlefields of 2040 and beyond.
The Franco-German “Main Ground Combat System” (MGCS) project was postponed at around the same time. The recently signed shareholder agreement for the MGCS Project Company GmbH aims to develop a cross-platform ground combat system to replace the Leopard 2 and Leclerc tanks by 2040.
The frequently voiced claim that the drone war (-> To the Military News drone focus) has made the main battle tank obsolete does not stand up to scrutiny – especially not by the armed forces that are directly involved in this drone war: Russia and Ukraine. Both continue to rely on the construction and planning of main battle tanks.
And in Western Europe, too, the bulging order books clearly show that the main battle tank is still seen as an effective weapon system.
Europe: 1,700 battle tanks in procurement
The European armies (excluding Russia and Ukraine) currently have around 6,450 main battle tanks. Of these, around 3,300 vehicles are considered obsolete and some are in storage. Greece accounts for almost half of these obsolete tanks, specifically Leopard 1, M60 and M48 models. At 1,200, around a third of the obsolete vehicles are T-72 tanks, 665 of which are owned by NATO-states. Of the approximately 2,900 main battle tanks with a higher utility value – predominantly Leopard 2A4 to 2A6, Leclerc, Challenger and Ariete – 632 are earmarked for modernization, including 58 vehicles from the Austrian Armed Forces (-> First Leopard 2A4 handed over to KNDS for modernization).
In order to increase operational capability, the European armed forces are planning to form new formations and around 1,700 new orders – exclusively from NATO countries. https://militaeraktuell.at/risikobild-2025-europa-ist-bereits-im-krieg/
Poland: New Abrams & K2 Black Panther
Poland is pursuing particularly ambitious tank ambitions. Of the original 247 Leopard 2A5+2PL, 232 PT-91 Twardy and 328 T-72 main battle tanks in the inventory, only small numbers were sold to Ukraine. Warsaw compensated for these losses by purchasing 116 ex-US Marine Corps M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks, which were delivered by 2024. The delivery of 250 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams main battle tanks with a total value of 4.66 billion euros also began in 2025. In addition, Poland is currently procuring 1,000 more K2 Black Panther main battle tanks from South Korea. Deliveries began in 2022, and by the end of 2024, 84 tanks from the first batch of a total of 180 vehicles, which cost 3.4 billion euros, had already arrived in Poland. A total of 820 vehicles from the order, worth around 6.3 billion euros, are to be produced in Poland.
Italy: New KF51 Panther
Italy is similarly ambitious: according to a parliamentary resolution passed at the beginning of November last year, a total of a total of 8.2 billion euros is to be invested in new main battle tanks. Following the surprising end of the Leonardo-KNDS partnership Rheinmetall and Leonardo for this recently founded a 50:50 joint venture. Originally, the procurement of 132 KF51 Panther (-> Rheinmetall presents its new Panther) and 1,000 KF-41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicles. However, Italian officials now confirmed at the AVIC conference in Farnborough that that as many as 380 KF51 Panthers and 1,050 KF41s are to be purchasedwhich should increase the procurement volume to around 30 billion euros. Italy intends to use the new tanks to replace its ageing Ariete fleet. To bridge the gap, however, around 100 Ariete tanks are to be upgraded to C2 standard first.
Germany: New Leopard 2A8
A total of 123 new Leopard 2A8 tanks are to be built in Germany, with an order value of 3.5 billion euros. The first 18 vehicles are to be delivered this year and in 2026, a further 35 by 2028 and the rest by 2030. Once the fleet is fully operational, the 2A8 tank fleet is expected to have operating costs of around 75 million euros per year. At the same time, Germany is modernizing 50 of its 118 Leopard 2A6s and all 51 Leopard 2A6Ms to the 2A6A3 and 2A6A3M upgrade level. By 2033, the Bundeswehr will therefore have a total of 433 Leopard 2A5 (17 vehicles), 2A6 (68), 2A6A3 (50), 2A6A3M (51), 2A7 (20), 2A7V (104) and 2A8 (123) main battle tanks, including an operational reserve of 80 vehicles. These will equip six active and one inactive tank battalion.
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A further modernization programme is also being planned to bridge the gap until the MGCS. The Leopard 2A5 and 2A6 are to be upgraded to the 2AX standard, but no final decision has yet been made. In the meantime KNDS Germanyboasts that it has the world’s most modern main battle tank in its portfolio with the Leopard 2A8 and is benefiting from strong demand. In addition to Germany (from 2025), Norway (54 vehicles from 2024, -> To the report), Sweden (44 from 2027, -> To the report), Lithuania (44 from 2027, -> To the report), Croatia (50 from 2027) and the Netherlands (46 from 2027, -> To the report) have ordered the Leopard 2A8. Remarkable: The Netherlands gave up its armored forces in 2011 for budget reasons; a new armored battalion is to be set up with the newly procured vehicles.
Sweden: New Leopard 2A8S
In addition to the 44 Leopard 2A8S (Stridsvagn 123B) ordered Sweden is carrying out upgrades on all 110 battle tanks in its inventory. The Stridsvagn 122A+B (Leopard 2A5) will be modernized to the Stridsvagn 123A variant at a cost of 1.7 billion euros. The upgrades include the Rheinmetall Rh-120 L/55A1 cannon with programmable ammunition as well as new optics and communication systems. Delivery of the modernized vehicles will begin in 2026.
Czech Republic: Used Leopard 2A4
The Czech Republic (-> Prague reached the 2% NATO target again for the first time in 2024) is considering the procurement of 58 Leopard 2A8s, but is currently still looking for the budget for this. For the time being, 169 million euros have been another 14 Leopard 2A4s from Rheinmetall and will then operate a fleet of 42 of these vehicles.
Great Britain: New Challenger 3
In the UK, Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) is modernizing 148 Challenger main battle tanks to the Challenger 3 (CR3) standard for the British Army, -> Next step towards Challenger 3). Part of the 1.17 billion euro upgrade is the 120 millimeter Rheinmetall L55A1 smoothbore gun and a new modular armour system. Eight prototypes have already been completed and initial operational readiness is targeted for 2027.
Hungary: New Leopard 2A7HU
In Hungary, the delivery of 44 Leopard 2A7HU main battle tanks is to be completed by 2025. In December 2023, Hungary also commissioned Rheinmetall to develop the Panther KF51 main battle tank until it is ready for series production, at a cost of 288 million euros. However, a purchase contract has yet to be signed.
Romania: New Abrams and possibly K2 Black Panther
Bucharest has ordered 54 Abrams main battle tanks of the latest M1A2 SEPv3 version, which will not be delivered until 2026. The order is worth just over one billion euros.
The needs of the Romanian army (-> Romania invests in its armed forces), however, this order is nowhere near enough. The country is therefore considering purchasing between 300 and 500 South Korean K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, the first of which could be delivered after just a few months.
Slovakia: Used Leopard 2A4
Slovakia is facing a difficult decision regarding the procurement of battle tanks. Germany supplied 15 Leopard 2A4s to replace the BVP-1 vehicles that were handed over to Ukraine. However, there is also an urgent need to replace the outdated Soviet T-72M1s.
There is a choice of new Leopard 2A8s or, much cheaper, more used Leopard 2A4s. Another option is 104 CV90120 medium tanks from BAE Systems Hägglunds. These are based on the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle and weigh only half as much as fully-fledged main battle tanks. Logistically, however, they would be an excellent match for the 152 CV90 MkIVs ordered in 2022 for 1.688 billion euros.
France: Leclerc is being modernized
France has been modernizing the Leclerc main battle tank to the XLR version since 2021. A total of 100 units were ordered in two stages, with 20 having already been delivered by the middle of the year. According to the current military programme law, a total of 130 units are to be modernized by 2030, followed by a further 40 by 2035.
Greece: Leopard 2A4 to be modernized
Greece currently has the largest tank fleet in Europe. The fleet includes 500 Leopard 1A5s, 183 Leopard 2A4s and 170 Leopard 2A6HELs. There are also 500 M60A3s (400 of which are in storage) and 460 M48A5s (around 70 of which are in storage).
123 Leopard 2A4s will be upgraded to the 2A7 standard. Further modernization concepts are also available for both the Leopard 1 and the Leopard 2.
Serbia: M-84AS2 being modernized
In April, battle tanks of the modernized M-84AS2 mod. 2020 variant were sighted for the first time as part of the “Vihor 2024” exercise in Serbia. Serbia has a total of 212 M-84s, although it is unclear how many of these will undergo modernization. The first batch comprises twelve units.
Switzerland: Leopard 2A4WE to be modernized
Switzerland operates 134 Leopard 2A4WE (value retention), which were modernized as part of the 2006 armament programme. In addition, there are currently 71 decommissioned Leopard 2A4s, with a further 25 vehicles were recently sold to the manufacturer Rheinmetall.
Austria: Leopard 2A4 to be modernized
The German Armed Forces plans to reactivate ten Leopard 2A4s in storage and carry out a service life extension and modernization programme for the entire fleet of 58 Leopard 2A4s. The first vehicles have been at KNDS since 2023 and are expected back from the beginning of 2026.
More on the red-white-red tank projects in the current issue of Militär Aktuell (-> To the subscription).
Main battle tanks in Europe: inventory overview
Due to the war, it is difficult to estimate the exact number of main battle tanks and their condition. According to estimates, Ukraine currently has around 1,600 main battle tanks, while Russia has around 5,000 to 6,000 active vehicles in service.
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Greece (NATO) – 1,813 main battle tanks: 500 Leopard 1A5, 183 Leopard 2A4, 170 Leopard 2A6HEL, 500 M60A3 and 460 M48A5
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Poland (NATO) – around 800 main battle tanks: 116 M1A1 Abrams, 247 Leopard 2A5+2PL, 232 PT-91 Twardy, 328 T-72 & an unspecified number of new K2 Black Panthers (possibly more vehicles have already been handed over to Ukraine)
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Belarus – 507 main battle tanks: T-72A,B,B3
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Romania (NATO) – 328 main battle tanks: TR-85, TR-85M1, TR-580 and T-55M
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Spain (NATO) – 317 main battle tanks: 219 Leopard 2A6E and 98 Leopard 2A4
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Germany (NATO) – 296 main battle tanks: Leopard 2A5, 2A6, 2A6A3, 2A6M, 2A6MA3, 2A7V and 2A7A1
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Serbia – 262 main battle tanks: 232 M84 and 30 T-72B1MS
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Great Britain (NATO) – 227 main battle tanks: Challenger 2+3
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France (NATO) – 215 main battle tanks: Leclerc and Lerclerc XLR
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Hungary (NATO) – 220 main battle tanks: 44 Leopard 2A7, 12 Leopard 2A4 and 164 T-72M1
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Switzerland – 205 main battle tanks: 134 Leopard 2A4WE and 71 Leopard 2A4
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Finland (NATO) – 200 main battle tanks: 100 Leopard 2A4 and 100 Leopard 2A6
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Italy (NATO) – 200 main battle tanks: 200 Ariete
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Sweden (NATO) – 110 main battle tanks: 110 Stridsvagn 122A+B
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Bulgaria (NATO) – 90 main battle tanks: T-72, M and M1
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Austria – 58 main battle tanks: 58 Leopard 24A
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Slovenia (NATO) – 54 main battle tanks: 54 M-84A4
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Albania (NATO) – 46 main battle tanks: Type 59, T-62 and Type 69
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Bosnia and Herzegovina – 45 main battle tanks: 45 M60A3
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Croatia (NATO) – 45 main battle tanks: 45 M-84A4
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Slovakia (NATO) – 45 main battle tanks: 30 T-72M1 and 15 Leopard 2A4
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Denmark (NATO) – 44 main battle tanks: 44 Leopard 2A7
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Norway (NATO) – 44 main battle tanks: 44 Leopard 2A4NO
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Czech Republic (NATO) – 46 main battle tanks: 30 T-72M4CZ & 16 Leopard 2A4
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Portugal (NATO) – 34 main battle tanks: 34 Leopard 2A6
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North Macedonia (NATO) – 23 main battle tanks: 23 T-72A
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Netherlands (NATO) – 18 main battle tanks: 18 Leopard 2A6MA2 (4th company of the German-Dutch 414 tank battalion)
