While the German-U.S. MBT-70 project did not in itself succeed, it was the genesis of innovations and technologies that were applied to the American M1 Abrams tank, as well as Germany's successor to the Leopard 1: the Leopard 2.

Sixteen Leopard 2 prototypes were built between 1972 and 1974; one of them, number 14, is the Leopard 2 on display at the Panzermuseum.

Ten of the prototypes were fitted with a 105mm smooth-bore gun, while the remainder had a 120mm smooth-bore weapon. A further two prototype vehicles were built, designated Leopard 2 AV (Austere Version).

The first series production Leopard 2 entered service in October 1979, with 2,215 eventually being built for the Bundeswehr and another 945 for foreign armies.

The "Leo 2" features a torsion bar suspension system with 7 road wheels per side, a front idler, four track return rollers, and a rear sprocket driven by a 1,500hp turbo-supercharged 12-cylinder diesel engine. This power plant provides a speed of up to 70 km/hr on roads, and can be removed and replaced in roughly 30 minutes.

The main gun is the same as used on the U.S. M1 Abrams: a 120mm smooth-bore weapon controlled by a ballistic computer. Forty-two rounds of main gun ammunition are carried. Secondary armament comprises a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, plus a second mounted on the roof for air defense.

The Leopard 2 has greatly improved surviveability with its multi-layer spaced armor, steel skirts, compartmented fuel and ammunition, and fire detection and extinguishing systems. Upgraded versions (Leopard 2A5 and 2A6) have additional armor, improved electronics, and - in the case of the 2A6 - an extended-barrell (by 1.3m) main gun and improved munitions that allow it to engage targets out to 5,000m.

The Leopard 2 has been exported to a number of countries, including the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Austria, and denmark.

The only major variant is the Büffel Armored Recovery Vehicle, which is fitted with a hydraulic crane, winch, dozer blade, and special equipment to service and repair, or recover, Leopard 2 MBTs in the field.