After a lengthy testing process, the Polish Armed Forces took over the first two Leopard 2PL prototypes from the modernization program of the Leopard 2A4 purchased from Germany. The tanks were delivered by the manufacturer Zakłady Mechaniczne Bumar-Łabędy in Gliwice to the 10th Armored Brigade in Świętoszów (south-western Poland).
The initial phase serves to train the Polish industrial staff, who will then carry out the work independently.
Die Modernisierung auf den Standard Leopard 2PL umfasst u.a. die Integration elektrischer Turmrichtantriebe und die Anpassung der Bordkanone an moderne Panzermunition (DM11 HE, tempierbare Hohlladungsmunition und DM63 KE, Treibspiegelgeschoss mit temperaturunabhängigem Pulver). Die Feuerleitanlage erhält neue optoelektronische Systeme wie die Wärmebildkamera der 3. Generation vom Typ KLW-1 Asteria in den Beobachtungs- und Zielgeräten des Kommandanten und des Richtschützen. Der Turm wird zusätzlich gepanzert und in Kampf- und Motorraum werden neue Brand- und Explosionsschutzsysteme installiert. Die Fahrzeuge werden einer gründlichen Wartung unterzogen, um die volle Leistungsfähigkeit der Panzer wiederherzustellen.
Bumar sees the delivery of the first tanks as a key phase of the program. More tanks are already ready for the acceptance procedure. All 142 main battle tanks are to be delivered in the performance-enhanced Leopard 2PL version by July 31, 2023. Rheinmetall is a strategic partner for the modernization program and is directly involved in the conversion of the first 17 main battle tanks.
Gerhard Heiming
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