EuroTrophy Signs $383M Leopard 2A8 Active Protection Contract
EuroTrophy GmbH has signed a €330 million ($383 million) contract with KNDS Deutschland to supply Trophy Active Protection Systems for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks ordered by Lithuania, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Croatia, the company announced on January 19, 2026.
The agreement covers the delivery of Trophy APS units for the four national Leopard 2A8 programs, along with spare parts, training courses, and logistics packages to support long-term operation of the system. The contract confirms that Trophy will be integrated as a standard feature of the Leopard 2A8 configuration delivered to all participating countries.
According to the company, the inclusion of Trophy as a baseline system ensures full interoperability and commonality across the fleets of the four NATO members, simplifying maintenance, training, and operational integration during joint deployments.
Trophy is a hard-kill active protection system designed to detect, track, and intercept incoming anti-tank guided missiles and rocket-propelled grenades before they strike the vehicle. The system uses radar sensors to identify threats and fires countermeasures to neutralize them at a safe distance from the armored platform.
As noted by EuroTrophy, the Leopard 2A8 program represents a unified European adoption of active protection as a core survivability requirement, reflecting lessons from recent conflicts where anti-armor weapons and loitering munitions have posed persistent threats to armored forces.
The Leopard 2A8 is the latest evolution of Germany’s Leopard 2 family and is being procured by several NATO states to reinforce heavy armored formations, particularly on the alliance’s eastern flank. The variant includes upgrades to protection, sensors, and digital architecture, with Trophy APS forming a central element of its survivability concept.
EuroTrophy stated that Trophy is now integrated or selected for all major Western main battle tanks, including the Leopard 2, M1A2 Abrams, and Merkava IV. The system has also been adapted for lighter platforms such as the Boxer, Patria AMV, Namer armored personnel carrier, and other wheeled and tracked infantry fighting vehicles.
The company, headquartered in Germany, serves as the European hub for Trophy production, integration, and support. It is currently the only provider of a European-made active protection system that is combat proven and fielded by NATO forces. In addition to hardware delivery, EuroTrophy provides vehicle integration support, maintenance services, and through-life sustainment packages for operators.
The contract follows a broader trend among European militaries to accelerate the adoption of active protection systems as standard equipment rather than optional upgrades. Recent battlefield experience has shown that passive armor alone is insufficient against modern guided weapons and top-attack munitions, driving NATO states to prioritize layered protection solutions for armored units.
For the four countries involved, the Leopard 2A8 program with Trophy APS is intended to improve survivability during high-intensity operations and ensure compatibility with allied armored formations operating under NATO command structures.