In 1978 Norway took delivery of 78 Leopard 1 (Resembling the German Leopard 1, 4th batch). The Norwegian vehicles underwent a modernisation programme ended in 1994, when the hydraulic gun control system was replaced by an all-electric system and EMES 18 Fire Control System installed, bringing them up to A5-standard. A further batch of 92 Leopard 1A5 have been upgraded for the Norwegian Army, designated Leopard 1A5NO2, with additional turret armour and silenced thermal sight. The Norwegian Leopard has an external snow grouser box mounted on the glacis plate, and the commander has an additional high front periscope.

The tank crew of a Norwegian tank are prescripted "dragoons" (private) and an officer trained at the Cavalry Officer Academy (BSK). The crew serves in the cavalry for one year only. It is not possible to work as a professional soldier. The crew consists of a driver, loader, gunner and the commander. A "tropp" (platoon) is made up by four tanks, where two tanks are commanded by sergeants, one by a second leutenant and the platoon leader is a leutenant. Three platoons forms a "eskadron" (company) lead by a "rittmester" (captain).

At the maximum, Norway had a tank fleet of 170 Leopard 1s. The tank is too small for the modern battlefield, and has a weak 105mm main gun. But it has great mobility - needed in the Norwegian mountainous terrain. In fact the Leopard 1A5 outrun all IFVs/APCs during the APC purchase test program. Finaly the CV9030N managed to drive where the Leopard could not reach, but the belt had to be upgraded and adjusted to Norwegian conditions in order to do so. The Bradley was one of the weakest.

Leopard 1 is now out of service in Norway. The final round (HEP) was fired at a seremony on 21th of September 2011.

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