Dutch army to operate its own tanks again with order for 46 Leopard 2A8s
Peter Felstead
The Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) is to once again become an operator of its own main battle tanks (MBTs).
On behalf of the Dutch Commando Materieel en IT (COMMIT) procurement agency, the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment (BAAINBw) signed a contract with KNDS Deutschland on 14 May 2025 at the Bernardkazerne in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, to procure 46 Leopard 2A8s with an option for six additional tanks. The contract is understood to be worth more than EUR 1 billion.
According to the Dutch Ministry of Defence, the first Leopard 2A8 should arrive in 2028, with deliveries completed by 2031.
The RNLA has not operated its own tanks for over a decade. As a cost-cutting measure it was announced in April 2011 that all of the RNLA’s Leopard 2A6 MBTs were to be decommissioned, leaving the army with no tanks for several years. In September 2015, however, it was announced that the RNLA’s 43 Mechanised Brigade would be integrated into the Bundeswehr’s 1st Panzer Division and, as part of this process, be reinforced by the German 414 Panzer Battalion, with the latter including a Dutch tank unit. Consequently, from 2018 the RNLA operated 18 Leopard 2A6MA2 MBTs leased from Germany.
The 46 new Leopard 2A8s are expected to operate alongside the leased Leopard 2A6MA2s and will be based in Germany in Lohheide, Lower Saxony.
On the signing of the contract in Amersfoort, Dutch State Secretary Gijs Tuinman stated, “With the current threat of large-scale conflict, the tank is an indispensable tool. And when you stand next to it, you immediately understand why.”
The Dutch MoD stated in a 14 May press release, “With this purchase, Defence is responding to NATO’s call for heavier combat capabilities for land operations. In addition to the tanks, the necessary spare parts, special tools and equipment, various factory training courses and documentation are being acquired.”
The MoD added that it is also purchasing four Leopard 2A8 driver training vehicles and that a decision on the optional extra six tanks will be made in 2027, stating that the total budget for the Dutch Leopard 2A8 procurement is between EUR 1 billion and EUR 2.5 billion.
