Germany unveiled its newly developed Leopard 2A8 tank in Munich on Wednesday as the European Union announced a new defense spending package amid continuing tensions with Russia.
According to a report from the German news agency dpa, the German military plans to receive the first vehicles for testing in 2026 and carry out intensive suitability tests.
The vehicles will then be received by the first battalion, starting with soldiers from the Lithuanian Brigade stationed in the Baltic states to protect the eastern flank.
Other European countries have also ordered the tank, including the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the Czech Republic, according to dpa.