A squadron of twenty Leopard 2A6M (“M” for extra mine protection) were borrowed from the German Army (Bundeswehr) beginning in mid-2007 to support the Canadian deployment in Afghanistan, with the first tank handed over after upgrading by KMW on 2 August 2007, and arriving in Afghanistan on 16 August 2007. 20 Leopard 2A6 were purchased from the Netherlands and then upgraded to the 2A6M standard. The 20 leased German Leopards have been retained and in their place Canada transferred the 20 tanks upgraded to the 2A6M standard purchased from the Netherlands to Germany at the end of the lease agreement. This leaves Canada with a total of 20 Leopard 2A6Ms.
The Canadian Army acquired 80 Leopard 2A4, 80 Leopard 2A4 from Netherlands, with 20 updated in 2007–2008 to a 2A4M CAN version with extra belly armour for mine protection (M) and additional modular armour and other enhancements (CAN). An additional 40 tanks, designated “Leopard 2A4+”, have been retained for training and the remaining 20 are to be converted to Engineer (13) and Bridge-Laying (7) support vehicles. 15 Leopard 2A4 from Germany in the summer of 2007 for Logistic Stock Vehicles (for spare parts). A further 12 surplus Pz 87 (Leopard 2A4) from Switzerland in 2010 for conversion to Armoured Recovery Vehicles. Engineering, Developing & Licensing Inc. EODC awarding a contract with IBD Deisenroth Engineering for the Leopard 2A4 with a new evolution concept for modern full spectrum warfare.
Two Bergepanzer 3 Büffel were purchased from the German Army for use with the Canadian deployment in Afghanistan. An additional fifteen Leopard 2A4 tanks were purchased from the German Army as Logistic Supply Vehicles (for spare parts). A final total of 112 tanks of all variants is to be fielded by the Canadian Army: 82 gun tanks (42 2A4+, 20 2A4M CAN and 20 2A6M CAN – all delivered as of March 2016), 12 ARVs (11 of 12 delivered as of March 2016) and 18 AEVs (conversion of which is ongoing).
