In 2015, Poland launched the program to modernize 142 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks. It was envisaged that Rheinmetall Defense would first modernize a prototype and then five more main battle tanks after they were approved for series production. Then the Polish contractor Bumar-Łabędy was to convert 12 tanks under the guidance of Rheinmetall. The remaining tanks should be delivered under the direction of Bumar-Łabędy by 2021.
To date, the Polish side has still not accepted the first prototype. It does not meet the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces and cannot be operated by the user in a safe manner and in accordance with its purpose, according to a spokesman for the Armaments Inspectorate. Complementary tests are currently underway to further verify compliance with several requirements.
The aim is to test the first modernized tanks in the troops this year.
In the last contract change from December 2019, the contractor committed to bring the full technical capability and to carry out the modernization of the 142 tanks by July 31, 2023. The updated gross price of the program has now risen to 730 million euros. From today's perspective, it hardly seems possible to meet this deadline.
The modernization of the tanks to the standard Leopard 2PL includes, among other things, the improvement of the turret armor, the installation of electric turret drives, the increase in performance of the 120 mm gun for the use of tempable ammunition and the comprehensive renewal of the reconnaissance and vision systems for day and night operations.
Gerhard Heiming
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