The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Denmark and the Netherlands will send 14 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBT) to Ukraine “this summer”, in the latest provision of MBTs from Kyiv’s supporting coalition of Western countries.

According to analysis conducted by Army Technology, the 14 tanks appear to be part of an earlier commitment from Denmark and the Netherlands for the provision of seven Leopard 2A4 MBTs each to Ukraine.

The delivery of the Leopard 2A4 tanks is distinct from another pledge by Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands of between 109-189 older Leopard 1A5 MBTs.

Open-source intelligence tracking site Oryx states that Ukraine has lost more than 20 Leopard 2A4 tanks in combat against Russia.

Following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Western countries have sought to supply Kyiv with necessary military equipment, including the provision of MBTs.

While at first this saw the provision of solider operated anti-tank and anti-air missile systems, in time the size and capability of donated equipment escalated, reaching the MBT tipping point in early-2023 when the UK committed 14 Challenger 2 tanks.

Since then, Ukraine’s military has modernised through the provision of a huge range of MBTs, from older ex-Soviet design Russian vehicles still operational in old eastern bloc countries, to modern Western behemoths such as the US Army’s M1A1 Abrams, the UK’s Challenger 2, or the European Leopard 2.

In total Western Nato members and other allies of Ukraine have provided, pledged, or have on order between 682 to 819 MBTs, ranging from older 105mm-armed Leopard 1 variants and T-72s, to modern Challenger 2 and relatively new M1A1 Abrams.

Recently, Spain confirmed that had dispatched ten Leopard 2A4 MBTs to Ukraine, publicly disclosing the transit route, and doubling the number of tanks it has donated since the outbreak of the Ukraine-Russia war.

Leopard 2 MBT: a European stalwart

The Leopard 2 MBT was developed by Krauss-Maffei, now Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), and is a direct successor to the Cold War-era Leopard 1.

First produced in 1979, it is in service with the armies of Austria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey, with more than 3,200 tanks produced.

In June 2010, KMW unveiled its next-generation main battle tank, Leopard 2 A7+. The tank was successfully tested and qualified by the German Army. Its main features include a modular protection kit, improved sustainability and increased mobility.

The other variants of the Leopard MBT are Leopard 2 A6M, Leopard 2 A5, Leopard 2 A4, and Leopard 1 A5.

In 2024, Germany announced that it would be acquiring more than 100 of the latest Leopard 2A8 variant.

Fitted with the 120mm L55 main gun, the Leopard 2 tanks are able to use extended range ammunition to engage targets at ranges of up to 5km.