09 April 2019

Bundeswehr awards Leopard 2 upgrade contract

by Nicholas Fiorenza

The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (: BAAINBw) and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) announced on 5 and 8 April, respectively, that they had signed a EUR300 million (USD337 million) contract on 28 March to upgrade German Leopard 2 main battle tanks (MBTs).

A total of 101 Leopard 2A6MA2 (pictured) and Leopard 2A6 MBTs will be upgraded to the Leopard 2A6MA3 standard by KMW. (Bundeswehr)

A total of 101 Leopard 2A6MA2 and Leopard 2A6 MBTs will be upgraded to the Leopard 2A6MA3 standard, KMW told Jane’s on 9 April. The BAAINBw described this standard as “similar” to the Leopard 2A7V, with as much commonality as possible in operating, training with, and maintaining the MBT. The vehicles’ operating concept, targeting systems, fire control computers, and chassis will be upgraded, KMW added. The company told Jane’s the upgraded tanks would not have auxiliary power units, like the Leopard 2A7V does, and that their protection would be different.

The upgrade of all 101 tanks will be completed in 2026 so enough vehicles are available at any one time for training and territorial defence, the BAAINBw explained.

The agency added that the contract also includes spare parts, special tools, adaptation of documentation, and training.

It pointed out that the upgrade would avoid the necessity for the tanks from being taken out of service for small modifications and reduce the differences between various versions of the Leopard 2. KMW added that this would further reduce the tanks’ logistics footprint and that their crews would no longer require additional training on different versions of the MBT.

The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (Bundesamt...

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