Leopard 2A6 / 2A8 – Main Battle Tank

The Leopard 2A6 served as the Royal Netherlands Army’s main battle tank for many years. Since its introduction in 1982, a total of 445 units were put into service. The last 110 Leopard 2A6s were decommissioned in 2010.

Today, the Netherlands participates in a German-Dutch tank battalion, part of the 43rd Mechanized Brigade, which leases 18 Leopard 2A6MA2 tanks from Germany. These tanks have since been upgraded to the Leopard 2A6MA3 configuration.

In 2025, the Dutch government ordered 46 new Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks. These vehicles will be stationed in Germany, continuing the binational cooperation.

In this photo album, you'll find images of the Leopard 2A6 main battle tank.
For photos of the upgraded variants — the Leopard 2A6MA2 and Leopard 2A6MA3 — please click the following link: