The Leopard 3, also known as the Leopard 2AX, is a fourth-generation German main battle tank (MBT).
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. It is designed with a service life of 25 years. 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.
Design
Early design information
The changes that were mentioned from the Leopard 2A8 include:
- A new tank gun: with a 50% increased kinetic energy compared to the Rh-120.
- Munitions:
- 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. 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.
- Remote turret with an automatic loader and a crew of three people.
Operators
Potential operators
The German Army operates 321 tanks as of 2025:
* 45 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:
* 17 Leopard 2A7 A1
* 123 Leopard 2A8
Future plans:
* As of July 2025, the German Army plans to order up to 1,000 additional MBT. 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.
See also
References