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Norwegian Army oslo tank military Norwegian Armed Forces air force navy M1 Abrams The Leopard 2A4 most widespread version of the Leopard 2 family, the 2A4 models included more substantial changes, including an automated fire and explosion suppression system, an all-digital fire control system able to handle new ammunition types, and improved turret with flat titanium/tungsten armour.
The Leopard 2s were manufactured in eight batches between 1985 and 1992. All the older models were also upgraded to 2A4 standard. Until 1994 Germany operated a total of 2,125 2A4s 695 newly built and the rest modified older versions, while the Netherlands had an additional 445 tanks. The 2A4 was also license manufactured in Switzerland as the Panzer 87 Leopard or Pz 87. This version included Swiss-built 7.5 mm Mg 87 machine guns and communications equipment, and featured improved NBC protection system. Switzerland operated 380 Pz 87 tanks.
After 2000, Germany and the Netherlands found themselves with large stocks of tanks they had no need for after the Cold War. These tanks were sold to NATO or friendly armies around the world. Among these were Austria, who received 114 vehicles, Canada 107, Chile 140, Denmark 51, Finland 139, Greece 183, Norway 52, Poland 128, Portugal 37, Singapore 96, Spain 108, Sweden 160, and Turkey 354 were among the buyers of the surplus tanks.31
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