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History
The Leopard 2HEL
The Leopard 2HEL, also known as the Leopard 2A6HEL, is a Greek-specific variant of the Leopard 2 main battle tank family. It was developed and procured as part of Greece’s major effort in the late 1990s and early 2000s to modernize its armored forces amid regional tensions.
In 1998, the Hellenic Army conducted a competitive evaluation of several modern main battle tanks, including the Leopard 2A5, Challenger 2E, Leclerc, M1A2 Abrams, T-80U and T-84. The Leopard 2A5 emerged as the clear winner due to its superior firepower, protection, mobility, and NATO interoperability. This selection led to a comprehensive government-to-government agreement with Germany in March 2003. Greece ordered 170 Leopard 2HEL tanks in a deal valued at approximately €1.7 billion. The package also included the transfer of 150 Leopard 1A5 tanks for refurbishment in Greece and the later purchase of 183 used Leopard 2A4 tanks from German surplus stocks.
The Leopard 2HEL is based on the Leopard 2A6 export configuration (sometimes called 2A6EX), featuring the more powerful L/55 120mm smoothbore gun, improved fire control systems, and enhanced armor. Greece requested specific customizations, including supplemental armor reinforcements on the upper glacis plate and crew hatches, the full MEXAS (Modular Expandable Armor System) package, integration with the Greek INIOCHOS command-and-information system, advanced thermal imaging and laser rangefinders, air conditioning, and other crew comfort and survivability features tailored to Greek operational requirements.
Production was split to support Greek industry: the first 30 tanks were fully assembled by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) in Germany, while the remaining 140 were assembled locally in Greece by ELBO (Elliniki Viomichania Oplon). The tanks underwent extensive trials in Germany before delivery. Deliveries took place between 2006 and 2009, with the first Greek-assembled Leopard 2HEL handed over in October 2006. The tanks officially entered service in 2008, with the first unit commissioned by the 25th Armored Brigade in Xanthi on May 30, 2008.
Today, the 170 Leopard 2HEL tanks form a key part of Greece’s armored inventory alongside the 183 Leopard 2A4s, giving the Hellenic Army the largest and one of the most modern Leopard 2 fleets in Europe. The vehicles have seen no major combat use but serve as a powerful deterrent and conventional defense asset in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean region. Greece continues to invest in sustainment, maintenance, and potential upgrades (such as armor, electronics, and systems improvements drawing from lessons of recent conflicts) to keep the fleet relevant for the coming decades, often in cooperation with German and broader KNDS (KMW + Nexter) industry partners.
The Leopard 2HEL remains a highly capable third-generation main battle tank, emphasizing excellent firepower (with modern 120mm ammunition compatibility), strong protection, and solid mobility powered by its MTU diesel engine. Its procurement strengthened both Greece’s military capabilities and its defense industrial ties with Germany through technology transfer and local assembly.
The 105mm configuration
In 2022 a Leopard 2HEL in Xanthi Tanks Firing Range was spotted with a L7A3 instead of the L55, later unofficial sources claimed that was one of two L7A3 that was fitted in the Leopard 2A4 in 2011
There are multiple factors motivating the Hellenic Army’s approach in this regard. First, the Army possesses a substantial stockpile of 105 mm ammunition, sufficient to sustain operations through several conflicts. Several years ago, the Hellenic Army acquired large quantities of these munitions from surplus stocks in Western Europe and, in particular, Israel, at a time when many other armed forces were transitioning to 120 mm caliber systems.
Second, a single 120 mm main battle tank round costs between €6,000 and €10,000. In the current economic and operational environment, expending such rounds for routine training or non-essential purposes represents a significant and avoidable expense. By contrast, the extensive use of existing 105 mm ammunition allows the Army to maintain training intensity at minimal cost while investing in its most critical asset—its personnel—by enabling crews to fire a greater number of live rounds from the Leopard 2A4 and Leopard 2HEL tanks.
Furthermore, gun barrels have a finite service life, typically estimated at around 1,000 rounds, after which bore wear leads to reduced accuracy and increasing projectile instability. The Hellenic Army’s large inventory of M68 and L7 105 mm barrels, salvaged from decommissioned M48A5, M60A3, and Leopard 1A3 tanks, therefore provides a highly valuable resource. Their utilization helps preserve the operational lifespan and combat readiness of the 120 mm guns mounted on the Leopard 2A4 and Leopard 2HEL fleets.
Firepower
The Leopard 2HEL (105mm) uses the L7A3 and Greece has
- DM23
- DM33
- M735
- M413
- M426/ DM63
- DM12
- M456A1
- M393A2
- M416
Also in contrast of the Leopard 2HEL that has a 15 ready rack the Leopard 2HEL (105mm) has only 6 rounds ready to fire
Machine gun (Coaxial): 7.62mm MG3A1+ one roof top MG3A1
Also with this Leopard 2HEL gets upgraded thermals called “Ophelios” which have second gen (for commander and gunner)
Protection
Protection of the Leopard 2HEL is pretty similar to the STRV-122 series as uses it same the Mexas-H protection package all around. (It was done by Leopard 2a6ex demo 1) and also
Smoke Grenades:16 smoke grenade launchers
Specifications
Crew: 4
Elevation (Max and Min):
Stabilized: 2 plane stabilizer
Length, hull: 7.722 meters
Width: 3.75 meters
Height: 3 meters
Weight:62.5t
Mobility
Greece was impressed by addition MTU 883 Ka-501 engine (1630 h. p. like leopard 2a6ex demo 2 and leopard 2PSO have) , but it was rejected by financial reasons. So we have standard leopard engine…
Engine: MTU MT 873 Ka-501 V-block 12-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine
Power: 1500 hp
Transmission: RENK HTWL 354, 4 speed forward/2 reverse
Top Speed: 72 km/h
Reverse top speed: 31 km/h
Power to weight: 24 hp/t
Suspension: Torsion bar
Images and video
the loader loading a DM63 round
In this video yo can see the Leopard 2HEL (105mm) as well the ready rack
Sources
Νέο επίτευγμα για το Τεχνικό Σώμα, Leopard 2HEL με πυροβόλο των 105 χλστ. (βίντεο)
Άρμα Μάχης Leo2HEL του ΕΣ με πυροβόλο των 105mm! Κι όμως, έγινε! - Πτήση
Βολές Πληρωμάτων Αρμάτων της ΧΧΙΙΙ ΤΘΤ - Πτήση
Fires Conducted by the Crews of the Tanks of the Χ – Army.gr
Leopard 2HEL: Το παράδοξο των ελληνικών αρμάτων που κάνουν τους Τούρκους να απορούν
Άρματα Μάχης – Γενικό Επιτελείο Στρατού
Greek Military Photos -- Greek Army
German main battle tank Leopard 2: stages of development. Part of 10
Отличия танков Леопард-2
Gesamtwerk Leopard 2
EvstPalaiologos on X: "Footage of the modified @HAspokesman Leopard 2HEL with a 105mm gun, used for training The turret bustle ammo rack can be seen with 105mm rounds https://t.co/iD2hOqC8gY" / X
Special thanks to @NER055
