Introducing the Leopard 2A8, Europe’s most advanced tank and the first mass-produced Leo equipped with an active protection system!
Leopard 2A8: An MBT for Germany and Sweden at Rank VIII
At a glance:
- Trophy Active Protection System
- DM53 APFSDS
- Good level of protection
- GEN 3 thermal imagers
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Introducing the Leopard 2A8
Today we’re excited to be showing you the Leopard 2A8, coming in as one the most advanced MBTs in War Thunder! Its defense is bolstered by a new protection system, making it stronger than ever. Read on to find out more about how this thing performs!
Using the Leopard 2A8 in Battle
The Leopard 2A8 represents the pinnacle of the Leopard 2 MBT family and serves as a direct successor to the Leopard 2A7 variants already featured in the game. This variant has been designed to address the challenges of the modern battlefield and incorporates the Israeli Trophy active protection system (APS) for outstanding defense against guided missiles.
It’s heavy, but is also well-armored and is equipped with advanced electronics and a long-barreled cannon. Its stock APFSDS round has great penetration power, however once the superior DM53 APFSDS round is unlocked, the Leopard 2A8 can penetrate almost any part of the strongest opponent on the battlefield! While its mobility is somewhat reduced compared to the more agile 2A4 and 2A5 models, it remains highly competitive in top-tier combat. The tank features an internal spall liner and additional frontal hull armor, while the side protection has been bolstered with extra composite armor modules. Combined with the new APS, these upgrades provide excellent protection against anti-tank guided missiles launched from ground vehicles or aircraft.
Feature Spotlight: Trophy APS
We’re sure that you’ll all be familiar with the Israeli Trophy active protection system, as it’s found on the Merkava Mk.4M and M1A2 (Trophy-HV) tanks. For those who don’t know, the Trophy system alerts you to an incoming missile and automatically intercepts it using countermeasure projectiles positioned around the turret. There are 6 charges available, providing the tank with all-around protection against ATGMs, whether launched from the ground or air!
Developer comment: The Leopard 2A8 serves as a logical evolution of the 2A7 variant. In the Eagle’s Shadow major update, the vehicle will be introduced for two nations: Germany and Sweden, with the latter receiving the Leopard 2A8 variant configured for the Norwegian Army. The most significant new feature is an Active Protection System, which provides an enhanced level of defense, primarily against helicopters, as well as ground-based ATGM launchers. With the Leopard’s survivability bolstered even further, all that remains is to put it to the test in battle!
Vehicle History
In February 2023, the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency (Forsvarsmateriell) signed a contract with KMW for 54 Leopard 2A7+ tanks for Norway, with deliveries scheduled for 2026–2028. In June 2023, the parties agreed to amend the contract to specify the Leopard 2A8 variant; these tanks were designated as Leopard 2A8NO. In May 2023, the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) concluded a framework agreement with KMW for 123 Leopard 2A8 tanks for Germany.
On November 19th 2025, the first production-standard Leopard 2A8 and 2A8NO tanks manufactured for Germany and Norway, respectively were unveiled at the KNDS Deutschland testing ground in Munich. Furthermore, plans are in place to supply Leopard 2A8 tanks to Lithuania, Sweden, the Netherlands, the Czechia, and Croatia.
That’s it for this one, the Leopard 2A8 is set to be one of the strongest MBTs in the game thanks to its strong armor and APS. See you in the next dev blog!
Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.
You can greatly speed up the research of the Leopard 2A8 with these packs:
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