Production of Leopard 2A8 Tanks Begun in Norway

Production of Leopard 2A8 tanks for the Norwegian Army has officially begun in Levanger, Norway.

This was reported by KNDS Deutschland.

Production was launched by the German company KNDS Deutschland and the Norwegian company RITEK, which specializes in equipment maintenance and repair. The facility in Levanger plans to manufacture 37 of the 54 Leopard 2A8 tanks ordered for the Norwegian Army.

The production and testing infrastructure was established in 18 months. The facility has the capacity to produce up to 36 tanks per year.

“Today we are celebrating much more than just the start of production. We are celebrating the establishment of industrial capabilities, a long-term partnership between Germany and Norway, and an important contribution to the defense readiness of Norway and NATO,” said Markus Helm, CFO of KNDS Deutschland.

In addition to production facilities, a specialized infrastructure for testing finished armored vehicles has been established in Levanger. It includes a laser range, sections with steep slopes, and a pool for testing vehicles as they cross water obstacles.

The facility’s power supply is provided by geothermal energy.

The launch of production will allow the majority of Norway’s Leopard 2A8 order to be manufactured domestically and will establish the country’s own industrial capabilities for working with these tanks.

Previously, Militarnyi reported that in May 2026, KNDS and RITEK opened a production site in Levanger and delivered the first two Leopard 2A8NO tanks to the Norwegian Army. At that time, the launch of serial production directly in Norway was scheduled for the fall of 2026.

Now, following the completion of the production and testing infrastructure, tank assembly in Levanger has officially begun.

Leopard 2A8

The launch of production in Norway comes amid the expansion of the Leopard 2A8 program, which, based on the number of customers, could become one of the most widely adopted versions of the Leopard 2.

About a dozen countries have already ordered a total of approximately 500 tanks of this variant. Due to the sharp increase in demand, KNDS is expanding its production chain and involving companies from other European countries in the manufacture of components, assembly, and maintenance of the tanks.

In addition to Norway, companies from Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Spain, and other European countries are joining the production and service partnership for the Leopard 2A8.

One of the main differences between the Leopard 2A8 and previous variants is the installation of the Israeli Trophy active protection system. Using radars, it detects anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades, after which it automatically deploys countermeasures to intercept them.

The tank also features reinforced modular armor on the hull and turret, including additional protection for the sides and upper hemisphere.

The primary armament remains the 120-mm Rh-120 L55A1 smoothbore gun, designed for use with modern armor-piercing and programmable ammunition.

The Leopard 2A8 also features an updated digital architecture, modern thermal imaging sights for the commander and gunner, and new communications and data transmission systems.