Leopard 2A4 Part 2 - Technology and Driver Training Vehicle Leopard 2 The Leopard 2 main battle tank can easily be regarded as a child of the depths of the Cold War. When the Leopard 2 was first fielded in 1979, it already was by far the best MBT in the world as it not only stood out from other tanks in all important parameters such as protection, mobility and armament, but also in secondary aspects like ergonomics, maintenance friendliness and reliability. Besides its high performance, its growth potential, adaptability and durability are the main characteristics of the design.