DSEI 2025: Leopard 1 offered extra kick with new power pack
The new FFG-developed power pack for the Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank (MBT) and variants ready for installation. A Leopard 1 with this new power pack ran for the first time late in July 2025. (Photo: FFG)
The new power pack from Germany’s Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) is about 300kg lighter than the original system, consists of a more modern eight-cylinder diesel developing up to 1,080hp. It is being shown for the first time at DSEI.
The German company FFG, teamed with Rolls-Royce Power Systems and ZF, has completed the first example of a new power pack for installation in the Leopard 1 MBT and many of its specialised versions.
The specialised versions include the FFG developed Wisent 1 Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV)/Armoured Engineer Vehicle (AEV), the Leopard 1-based ARV, AEV and armoured vehicle launched bridges, and Gepard twin 35mm air defence system which are still deployed by many countries.
All of these have a power pack designed more than 65 years ago consisting of a MTU MB 838 Ca M-500 10-cylinder diesel developing 830hp at 2,200rpm
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