Norway wants to replace the main battle tanks in its inventory by 2025. Norway purchased 52 Leopard 2 A4 main battle tanks from the Netherlands in 2001. Of these tanks, only 36 are operational.
Parliament examined how the main battle tanks in inventory could be brought to modern standards. After it was announced that modernizing existing tanks was inadequate, it was decided to purchase a new platform. German production Leopard 2 and The Republic of Korea’s K2 Black Panther platforms came up.
The Ministry of Defence is expected to present its purchase plan to Storting in 2021.
Norway is estimated to buy a total of 200 main battle tanks.
211216-N-QI061-1222 NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (December 16, 2021) An MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), assigned to Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 (VUP-19), sits on the flight line at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, Dec. 16, 2021. VUP-19, the Navy’s first Triton squadron, will continue to maintain and operate the aircraft off the East Coast to further develop the concept of operations and refine tactics, techniques, and procedures. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan T. Beard/ Released)