The C2 reportedly combines a C1 (Leopard 1A3) hull with Leopard 1A5 turret, then up-armouring with German designed Modular Expandable Armor System (MEXAS, by IBD Deisenroth Engineering, which was taken over by Rheinmetall in 2019. IBD Deisenroth ceased MEXAS production in 2006 in favor of AMAP.).

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Lance Wade.

This is a Leo C2 sans MEXAS during a wargame called Maple Guardian, on the U.S. Army’s Fort Irwin in California, January 2010.

Apparently some C2s operate without the MEXAS, and some C1s operate with MEXAS, to confuse things more the C1 and C2 Leopards look almost identical with or without the MEXAS.

Canadian Forces photo by Corporal Simon Duchesne.

25OCT2007, Zharey, Afghanistan.

Canadian Forces photo by Master Corporal Kevin Paul. 

28JUN2007, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ma’Sum Ghar (MSG), Afghanistan.  C2 MEXAS is equipped with heat shield blankets, in an attempt to keep the crew compartments cooler.

Canadian Forces photo by Lieutenant Commander Kent Penney.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Craig Fiander.

C2 (Leopard Mark 1 C2) MEXAS crossing a stream somewhere in Afghanistan, during the 2nd Operation Athena (2005-2011), 09JUN2007.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Craig Fiander.

C2 pile-on, Panjwayi District, Afghanistan, 09JUN2007.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Dennis Power.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Dennis Power.

28DEC2006, mine plow C2 MEXAS patrolling the areas of Panjwai, Pashmul, and Zhari during Operation BAAZ TSUKA.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Dennis Power.

Patrolling the areas of Panjwai, Pashmul, and Zhari during Operation BAAZ TSUKA, 28DEC2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Dennis Power.

Canadian Forces photo by Captain Edward Stewart.

Leopard C2 ‘blade tank’, FOB MSG in Afghanistan, 17DEC2006.

Canada Forces photo by Master Corporal Yves Gemus.

A pride of Canadian Leopard C2 tanks on FOB MSG near the town of Bazaar-e-Panjwayi, Afghanistan, 10DEC2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Roxanne Clowe.

C2 MEXAS, Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan, 06NOV2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Lou Penny.

German built, Canadian modified, Leopard C2 MEXAS tank from Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), Afghanistan, 24OCT2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Lou Penny.

U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Mitch Gettle.

Canadian C2 MEXAS being loaded onto a U.S. Air Force C-17 on Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, for deployment to Afghanistan, 07OCT2006.

Canadian Forces photo by Corporal David Cribb.

The beginning of the end for the Leo Mark-1 C2 MEXAS as ‘loaned’ German 2A6 Leos, newly modified to Canada’s ‘M’ standard, began arriving in 2008.  Canadian Forces were in the middle of their 2nd Operation Athena deployment (2005-2011) to Afghanistan.  It should be noted that the ‘loaned’ German 2A6s were ‘at no cost’, and were eventually returned to Germany with their M upgrades (some reports say Canada kept the German 2A6Ms and returned to Germany 2A6s purchased second-hand from Netherlands).

After only a couple of years of operations in Afghanistan, the C2 was deemed to be not only inadequate in dealing with the type of low-intensity ambush style of warfare, but also hot/dry climates.  In 2007, Canadian Forces decided to replace their C2 MEXAS with Leopard 2A4 and 2A6 modified to M standards (‘M’ primarily for ‘mine resistant’, but many other modifications were made, Canadian Army does not use the CAN designation as seen on model kits or non-Canadian sources of information, it’s simply 2A4M or 2A6M).

Canadian Forces photo by Corporal James Nightingale.

Leo 2A6M, Zharey District, Afghanistan, November 2008.  The SAAB designed camo netting is primarily a thermal blanket, and the Leo 2A6M has air conditioning (not initially, but reports say that finally air conditioners were installed).

Canada also purchased second hand Leo 2A4s and 2A6s from Netherlands and Switzerland, to be modified to M standards or converted to recovery vehicles.

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