Spain - The process of modernizing the fleet of armored vehicles in service in the Spanish army also includes that of the Leopard tank.
This project, which should take place in three phases from now until 2032, aims to provide Spanish tanks with new capabilities but also to tackle existing obsolescence.
The first phase, which is expected to last until 2029, should allow obsolete treatment and necessary maintenance operations to be carried out, will lead to the birth of a new standard called Leopard 2E M1 inclusive of IOC (Initial Operating Capability) to be effective in 2029.
Achieving this goal will mark the entry of the program into the second phase, which will be dedicated to modernizing or replacing some subsystems as well as preinstalling mission systems.
This second phase, the duration of which is not specified, will bring the Spanish chariot to the 2E M2 standard before the third and final phase of the program which will see the acquisition of 60 mission modules. This final step will be reached in 2032 by the FOC (Full Operating Capability) of Leopard 2EM2+ marking the completion of the program.
According to the elements known so far, the modernization of Spanish tanks should mean an improvement in firepower with the possible installation of the 120 mm L55A1 cannon on the tanks that are still equipped with the L44 cannon so far in service on Leopard 2 to A6 standard, as well as a RWS (Remote Weapon Station).
In the field of protection, the modernization should include the installation of an active protection system, the type of which is unknown yet, and a multispectral camouflage system that could be the Saab Barracuda system already in service in several armies.
The Spanish tank should also receive a new communication/command system while the mobility and maintenance of the tank will also be subjected to improvements whose exact nature is unknown today.
It is also unknown how many tanks will be interested in this update, the potential purchase of 60 mission systems suggests that not all tanks will be equipped with this equipment but will receive pre-installation kits that will allow for rapid implementation of the components involved.
It remains to be hoped that the progress of this program will not encounter the same difficulties as the development of the VCR 8x8 Dragon, the delay of which has recently sparked ministerial ire.