Profile
- Type
- Main battle tank
- Conflict side
- Ukraine
- Origin
- Sweden / Germany
- Service note
- Entered Swedish service in the late 1990s; donated to Ukraine during the full-scale Russia-Ukraine War
Tanks
Strv 122
The Strv 122 is Sweden's upgraded Leopard 2 main battle tank, adapted for Swedish service with reinforced protection, Swedish communications, smoke launchers, and a four-person crew. Sweden transferred ten tanks to Ukraine in 2023, pairing the donation with training for Ukrainian crews before the vehicles were fielded in the Russia-Ukraine War.
- Conflict side
- Ukraine
Service History
- In service
- 1997-present in Swedish service; Ukrainian service from 2023
- Used by
- Swedish Army, Ukrainian Ground Forces
- Wars
- Russia-Ukraine War
Production History
- Designer
- Leopard 2 design adapted to Swedish requirements
- Designed
- 1990s Swedish Leopard 2 procurement and adaptation
- Produced
- Deliveries completed by 2002
- Number built
- 120 for Sweden
- Variants
- Strv 122, Strv 122B
Specifications
- Crew
- 4: commander, gunner, loader, and driver
- Main armament
- 120 mm smoothbore gun
- Secondary armament
- Two 7.62 mm machine guns and smoke grenade launchers
- Combat weight
- About 62,000 kg
- Engine
- MTU MB-873 Ka-501 diesel rated at about 1,500 hp
- Road speed
- About 72 km/h
- Operational range
- About 470 km
- Ammunition
- 42 rounds of 120 mm ammunition and about 4,750 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition
Conflict Usage
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Side: Ukraine
Sweden donated ten Strv 122 main battle tanks to Ukraine, with Ukrainian crews trained in Sweden before the tanks entered battlefield service in 2023.
Related Weapon Systems
Leopard 1A5Main battle tankThe Leopard 1A5 is a German main battle tank modernization centered on improved fire control, thermal sighting, and the 105 mm L7-series gun. In the Russia-Ukraine War, refurbished A5-family tanks from European industrial stocks give Ukrainian armored units a lighter Western tank with good mobility and logistics support, but less passive protection than newer Leopard 2 variants.
M-55SUpgraded T-55 main battle tankThe M-55S is Slovenia's modernized T-55 main battle tank, rebuilt by ST Ravne with a 105 mm gun, explosive reactive armor, fire-control upgrades, laser-warning equipment, and NATO-compatible ammunition. During the Russia-Ukraine War, Slovenia committed 28 M-55S tanks to Ukraine through a ring exchange with Germany, making the type a legacy Soviet chassis adapted for Western-supported Ukrainian armored forces.
Challenger 2Main battle tankThe Challenger 2 is a British third-generation main battle tank built around a rifled 120 mm gun, heavy composite armor, and four-person crew operations. In the Russia-Ukraine War, the United Kingdom supplied a small squadron to Ukraine as one of the first Western main battle tank transfers of the full-scale invasion.
PT-91 TwardyMain battle tankThe PT-91 Twardy is a Polish main battle tank developed from the T-72M1 with domestic upgrades including ERAWA explosive reactive armor, improved fire-control equipment, and an 850 hp diesel powerpack. In the Russia-Ukraine War it represents a Polish-supplied T-72-family tank type used to expand Ukraine's armored force with a familiar three-crew, autoloaded 125 mm platform.
AHS Krab155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzerThe AHS Krab is a Polish 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer built by Huta Stalowa Wola around a NATO-standard 52-caliber gun, an armored tracked chassis, and modern fire-control equipment. In Ukrainian service it gives artillery units a mobile Western-caliber gun able to fire standard 155 mm ammunition, displace after missions, and operate in counter-battery-threatened sectors of the Russia-Ukraine War.
AS-90155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzerThe AS-90 is a British tracked 155 mm self-propelled howitzer built for armored, mobile indirect fire support. In the Russia-Ukraine War it represents a UK-donated NATO-caliber artillery system for Ukrainian forces, combining a protected tracked chassis, 155 mm ammunition compatibility, rapid burst fire, and a conventional range of about 24.7 km.Sources
Stridsvagn 122 (Strv 122) Main Battle TankPublisher: MilitaryFactory.com | Note: Supports general Strv 122 background, production, manufacturer, and technical specification details. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Heavy advanced weapons to Ukraine in new support packagePublisher: Government Offices of Sweden | Note: Directly supports Russia-Ukraine War transfer context: Sweden's decision to provide up to ten Leopard 2 battle tanks, identified in the facts section as Stridsvagn 122. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Swedish main battle tank 'Stridsvagn 122' on site in UkrainePublisher: Swedish Armed Forces | Note: Directly supports Russia-Ukraine War use context: delivery to Ukraine, Swedish training of Ukrainian crews, battlefield presence, and basic armament facts. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:Strv 122.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and license page for the Strv 122 photograph used as the primary image. | Accessed: 2026-06-20