Spanish Army deploys Leopard 2E tanks in Latvia to reinforce NATO combat readiness against Russia.

On July 11, 2025, the Spanish General Staff announced that the Spanish Armed Forces, deployed to Latvia as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence, participated in Exercise Forge 2025 at the Ādaži Military Base. This training involved units from Brigade X “Guzmán el Bueno,” supported by the Logistic Brigade, Field Artillery Command, and Air Defense Artillery Command. Spain contributed armored vehicles, artillery, engineers, and air defense assets to the Canada-led Multinational Battlegroup Latvia (MN BG LVA), including Leopard 2E main battle tanks, Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles, and NASAMS systems. Additional support included a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) team and a Raven UAV. The Spanish detachment is part of Operation Flanco Este Letonia XVII and is under the operational control of the Spanish Joint Operations Command (MOPS).
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The Leopard 2E integrates wedge-shaped turret armor derived from the Leopard 2A5 design, similar in concept to the Swedish Strv 122, and features embedded protection rather than bolt-on kits. (Picture source: Spanish MoD)

Exercise Forge is a multinational military training activity developed within NATO’s strategy to reinforce collective defense capabilities in the Baltic region. Its origins trace back to earlier exercises such as Titan Forge in 2023, involving 1,200 soldiers from 11 countries, and Crystal Arrow, with 3,000 participants from 15 Allies. These exercises formed the foundation for Forge’s evolution into a broader scenario-driven training series. The 2025 edition of Forge, also referred to as “War Horse Forge,” included ground and logistical assets from NATO Allies including Spain, Italy, Latvia, Canada, the United States, Romania, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. The main training areas included combined arms coordination, obstacle breaching, fortification building, company-level maneuvering, and air-ground command integration.

The Spanish Mechanized Tactical Subgroup participating in Forge 2025 was structured around two sections of Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles, one section of Leopard 2E tanks, and one support weapons section. These units conducted offensive and defensive tactical exercises at company level, including joint maneuvers with the Polish tank company also integrated in the MN BG LVA. This included relay transitions and echeloned advances. Spain’s Engineer Unit operated as part of a multinational formation alongside Italian and Spanish sections and undertook the construction of a fortified defensive position. Tasks included the preparation of vehicle fighting positions, shooting and listening posts, platoon-level shelters, and a buried command post. The Spanish forces additionally participated in multinational drills focused on obstacle crossing and breach opening, conducted with other battlegroup components to train interoperability under NATO-standard doctrine.

Spain’s Leopard 2E is a localized version of the German Leopard 2A6 main battle tank developed to meet national operational requirements. Its origin stems from the 1995 cancellation of the Lince tank program, which led to a 1998 agreement with Germany to transfer 108 Leopard 2A4 tanks and to commence local production of 219 Leopard 2E units. Manufacturing began in December 2003 under Santa Bárbara Sistemas, which later became part of General Dynamics European Land Systems. Despite delays related to industrial mergers and supply chain issues between 2006 and 2007, the full delivery was completed by 2008. The Leopard 2E replaced the AMX-30E and M60 Patton in Spain’s armored and mechanized units and remains in service, with deployments including NATO’s forward presence in Latvia starting in 2017.

The Leopard 2E incorporates structural modifications compared to its German counterpart. The hull and turret feature additional composite armor, particularly in frontal areas, increasing combat weight to 62.5 tonnes. It retains the 120 mm Rheinmetall L55 smoothbore cannon as its primary armament and is supported by two MG3 7.62 mm machine guns. Power is provided by the MTU MB 873 Ka-501 V12 diesel engine rated at 1,500 horsepower, enabling a top speed of 70 km/h and a road range of 350 km. The vehicle includes a hydromechanical transmission (Renk HSWL-354), torsion-bar suspension, and seven road wheels per side. Spanish-built components include the auxiliary power unit by SAPA and thermal vision systems developed by Indra, while the command and control functions are managed by the LINCE system, derived from IFIS architecture and produced by Amper.

Spain assembled 197 of the Leopard 2E tanks domestically and produced 12 recovery variants (Leopard 2ER) and four training tanks (CESC). The tank's armor profile includes turret wedge modules similar to the Leopard 2A5 and hull glacis reinforcement comparable to the Strv 122. These features were integrated during manufacturing rather than added post-assembly, resulting in one of the most heavily protected Leopard 2 variants at the time of production. The vehicle includes second-generation thermal imagers for both commander and gunner, supplied through collaboration between Indra and Rheinmetall Defense Electronics. Specific adaptations for Spanish operational environments included upgraded air-conditioning, modified rubber track pads, and situational awareness features. Approximately 60% of components were manufactured in Spain, with contributions from national defense firms such as Tecnobit, Sapa, and Electroop.

Initial efforts to update the Leopard 2E focused on scheduled maintenance contracts, including a €208 million agreement approved in 2023. Additional measures originated from internal proposals within the armored units and led to the development of the “Evolución Tortuga” concept. The prototype included bar armor along the vehicle’s sides to counter threats such as RPGs, a feature similar to that employed by Canadian Leopards in Afghanistan. No full upgrade package was initiated under this concept, but it served as the basis for evaluating future needs. The Leopard 2E is expected to remain in service through the current decade, and Spain has explored modernization actions to align with similar programs in other European countries, particularly those involving the Leopard 2A6 and Challenger 2.

Spain’s current Leopard 2E modernization plan is structured into multiple phases, each introducing a different level of capability. Phase 1 will address outdated subsystems, transitioning the fleet to the 2E M1 standard by 2029. This includes evolutionary maintenance, software revisions, and compatibility upgrades. Phase 2 will introduce pre-fitted modules and prioritize the integration of Remote Weapon Stations and Active Protection Systems. This stage is intended to bring the tank in line with the Leopard 2A7 configuration and includes improvements to protection and situational awareness. Phase 3 aims to deliver 60 fully modernized Leopard 2E M2+ units by 2032, equipped with the Rheinmetall L55-A1 gun, RCWS, laser warning systems, underbody mine protection, and smoke screening systems.

Several additional systems have been validated for integration on the Leopard 2E. These include the Israeli-designed Trophy Active Protection System, co-produced through the EuroTrophy GmbH joint venture involving GDELS-SBS, KNDS Deutschland, and RAFAEL. The system is already fielded on other NATO MBTs including the Merkava Mk 4, M1A2 SEPv3, and Challenger 3. Spain also tested Indra’s Nemus AESA radar on the Leopard 2E at Zaragoza’s Armored Units Instruction Center in May 2025. The radar is capable of detecting, tracking, and classifying threats such as drones, ATGMs, and supersonic projectiles. Nemus integrates artificial intelligence for decoy discrimination and electronic warfare resistance. Developed through Pulse, a joint venture with UAE-based EDGE, Nemus supports APS functionality and is compatible with other armored platforms beyond main battle tanks.