Germany plans to purchase the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) as a successor to the Leopard 2 (current variants 2A5, 2A6 and 2A7 and upcoming variant 2A8). This tank won't be ready before the 2040s. The German Army expressed new needs for an interim solution. Early 2025, the development of this Leopard 3 was kicked off, 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 expressed a need for 1,000 additional tanks that would be made of Leopard 2A8, Leopard 3 and MGCS.[10]
Design
Early design information
The changes that were mentioned from the Leopard 2A8 include:[9]
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.
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]
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