LEOPARD2 A5

The development of improved components for the Leopard 2 was finally favoured, and in 1989 the Leopard 2 KVT was built and tested. Two prototypes were built in 1991 by Krauss-Maffei for the improvement program, known as KWS. An alternative improvement program was initiated, divided into three stages, and known as KWS I, KWS II, and KWS III. KWS II was the development of increased armor protection for the crew and improved command and control system capabilities (OBS: This program resulted in the Leopard 2 A5).
On October 1991, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Germany decided for cooperation in a development program for KWS II. The first Leopard 2 A5 were officially delivered to the German Army School on 30 November 1995. Chassis of the sixth, seventh, and eight batches were to be used for the conversion program and to receive reworked and modified turrets taken from tanks of the first four batches. Modernization of the chassis were to be carried out by Krauss-Maffei and MaK while Wegmann and Rheinmetall became responsible for the turrets.