Rheinmetall to upgrade Polish Leopard 2 tanks
Rheinmetall has been awarded a contract by Poland to upgrade its 128 Leopard 2 main battle tanks (MBTs), it announced on 22 February. The order is worth about $244 million.
As part of the modernisation, 128 Leopard 2 A4 MBTs will be upgraded to the Leopard 2 PL standard. Serving as a strategic partner, Rheinmetall will work in cooperation with Poland-based Bumar-Łabędy and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa and supply key capabilities, including electronics and weapon technology.
The contract will also see the transfer of technology and knowledge to Polish industry. Poland is now the third Leopard MBT user nation after Canada and Indonesia to select Rheinmetall as technology partner for a modernisation programme.
The Leopard 2A4 is the MBT for several NATO countries. It has an L44 120-mm smooth bore gun; a C6 7.62mm coaxial, medium machine gun; and 76mm multi-barrel grenade dischargers (16 tubes). The tank is 9.67m long, 3.70m wide and 2.90m high. It has an on-road range of 340km and off-road range of 220km. it is powered by an F-54 Diesel DF-2 engine, which has a capacity of 1,160 litres.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Predicted air defence spending boom opens doors to Indian industry]()
Predicted air defence spending boom opens doors to Indian industry
Recent conflicts have created a surge in interceptor demand worldwide while exposing potential supply chain challenges, positioning India as a cost-effective partner and scalable supplier.
-
![March land forces roundup: A new war confronts the old drone problem]()
March land forces roundup: A new war confronts the old drone problem
The attack by the US and Israel on Iran which began at the end of February presented a Ukraine-like scenario of drone-led warfare – in fact the same drone type in the Shahed – and the problem of how to counter them.
-
![New US$1.4 billion package to boost Canada’s defence capabilities]()
New US$1.4 billion package to boost Canada’s defence capabilities
The Canadian defence department has outlined major investments in ISR solutions, small arms and ammunition production capabilities as the country pushes for greater self-reliance to bolster its forces and its supply chain.
