Companies KNDS and RITEK have opened a factory in Norway to produce Leopard 2A8NO tanks and have already delivered the first vehicles to the Norwegian Army.
The information was shared by KNDS in a conversation with the Ukrainian portal Militarnyi. According to the German company, the facility includes specialized testing tracks, including a laser test range, steep slopes, and a submersion pool, and has the capacity to produce up to 36 tanks per year.
“Together with our partner RITEK, we quickly set up a production line to deliver Leopard 2A8NO tanks to the Norwegian Army. This not only fulfills a key contract with the customer, but also highlights the importance of the Levanger factory in expanding our production capacity,” said Florian Hoenwarter, CEO of KNDS Deutschland.
The construction of the factory took about 18 months and, according to KNDS, its main focus is sustainability. According to Militarnyi, the facility uses energy from geothermal sources, ensuring environmentally friendly operations.
Overall, 37 of the 54 Leopard 2A8NO main battle tanks for the Norwegian Army will be produced at this factory, which will also significantly strengthen European defense capabilities.
With the opening of the facility, the first two Leopard 2A8NO tanks have already been delivered to the Norwegian Army. Meanwhile, serial production of the tanks is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2026.
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Photo: KNDS. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
