The agreement is signed with German KMW, which manufactures the Leopard 2 tank, called stridsvagn 122 in Sweden.
The Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) states in a press release that it is the most extensive upgrade of tank 122 since the tanks were purchased in the early 2000s.
“Tanks will be the backbone of the army’s brigades for a long time to come, that is a conclusion we can draw from the ongoing war in Ukraine. The order we are now placing on KMW represents a significant modernization of our tank fleet and extends the life of the tanks at least into 2030 the century”, says Jonas Lotsne, head of FMV’s operational area army materiel, in the press release.
The renovation means, among other things, that all electronic components are replaced, a new cannon with a new calibre, new night sights for the gunner and carriage commander as well as a dark driving camera for the driver and new straps.
Delivery to the Armed Forces will take place starting in 2026. The modernization also means a new name – tank 123A.