- Yes
- No
History and introduction
The Leopard 2E is a Spanish version of the German Leopard 2 tank, customized for the Spanish Army. By the 1980s, Spain’s armored forces were seriously outdated, relying on 299 French-made AMX-30Es and over 500 American M47 and M48 Patton tanks, some of which had been in service since the 1950s. In 1984, the Spanish government decided it was time for a complete upgrade. After considering options from several manufacturers, including the M1 Abrams and the Leclerc, Spain chose the Leopard 2 from Krauss-Maffei.
In 1995, Spain bought 108 Leopard 2A4 tanks as a stopgap measure while planning for a more modern version. By 1998, Spain acquired the license to produce its own version, the Leopard 2E, which was based on the Leopard 2A6 Demo 1 model. Although early plans included a more powerful engine, they decided to focus on improving firepower, armor, and electronics instead. The first 30 tanks were built in Germany, but the rest—189 units—were assembled in Spain by Santa Bárbara Sistemas, a company that later became part of General Dynamics. The production was split between two factories: Trubia handled the hulls and turrets, while Las Canteras managed the final assembly.
Production started in 2003 and wrapped up in 2013. The Leopard 2E became the backbone of Spain’s armored forces, combining advanced technology with local manufacturing expertise. It wasn’t just about modernizing the army—it also gave a major boost to Spain’s defense industry.
Firepower
The Leopard 2E is equipped with the 120mm smoothbore L55 cannon which can use a variety of ammunition.
Ammunition
DM-12A1
DM-63/A1 (post penetration incendiary effect)
DM-53/A1 (post penetration incendiary effect)
DM-43
DM-33
RH-31
Protection
Protection of this Leopard 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 but have some improvements
Mobility
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: 68 km/h
Weight: 62.5 t
Power to weight: 24 hp/t
Suspension: Torsion bar
