The 'Leonidas-2' development involved extensive modification of the previous model. This was done by ELVO in 1987 with the aim to essentially develop it as an armoured
infantry fighting vehicle (AIFV). The new version had a weight of 18.8 tons and it used a 450 hp engine; maximum speed was 70 km/h. The construction of the turret became a matter of debates involving interested companies (three versions with different types of turrets were proposed, while there were "demands" that the turret should constructed by
EBO), but the vehicle was finally produced without a turret. About 700 were produced, including a number exported to
Cyprus. Plans to develop the vehicle further as 'Leonidas-3' for different roles were abandoned in 2002, as the vehicle was considered outdated. ELVO continued efforts for a modern AIFV development, starting cooperation in 1988 with
Steyr-Daimler-Puch of
Austria on a joint development, but soon pulled out due to the high cost of the vehicle compared to the Greek Army specifications (
Santa Bárbara Sistemas of
Spain continued development with the
Austrian company, resulting in the
ASCOD Ulan/
Pizarro AIFV). Eventually ELVO worked on its own, developing a completely new armoured infantry fighting vehicle, the
Kentaurus in 1998. ==Leonidas production==