Germany delivers Leopard 2A5s to Poland
On 16 May Germany delivered the first 11 of 105 Leopard 2A5 MBTs that were purchased by Poland in November last year. The MBTs were delivered to the 34th Armoured Cavalry Brigade’s base in Zagan, Poland.
Under the November agreement signed Poland acquired 105 Leopard 2A5 tanks, 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks, 18 Bergepanzer 2 armoured recovery vehicles, 120 Mercedes DB1017A trucks, 40 U1300L Unimog trucks, 40 Mercedes MB250 light off-road vehicles (including some with communications equipment) and other special equipment, from German Army stocks for a total of €180 million.
Under the delivery schedule most of the MBTs (77 of theA5 version and 14 of theA4 version) will arrive in Poland by the end of 2014. The last 28 Leopard 2A5s are to reach Poland in 2015.
At the end of January 2014, it was announced that the 2nd Polish Brigade would be re-equip the 34th Armoured Cavalry Brigade with the MBTs. The brigade so far has been armed with two battalions of PT-91 light tanks.
Poland has also launched a competition to select a contractor to modernise 128 Leopard 2A4 tanks operated by the 10th Brigade. A single bid was received from Polish Defence Holding (Polski Holding Obronny), teamed with KMW.
The upgrade includes new main gun stabilisation (from hydraulic to electric), add-on armour elements, fitting of a new auxiliary power unit and installation of modern observation and sighting equipment. In future, the Polish Armed Forces also plan to upgrade the Leopard 2A5 tanks.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Rheinmetall awarded M107 ammunition contract]()
Rheinmetall awarded M107 ammunition contract
Rheinmetall has been increasing its production capacities since 2022 and aims to be able to produce up to 1.1 million 155mm artillery shells annually by 2027.
-
![New ROGUE-Fires contract moves programme forward]()
New ROGUE-Fires contract moves programme forward
The $29.9 million agreement covers the delivery of 48 platforms.
-
![Solving production & supply chain challenges with additive manufacturing]()
Solving production & supply chain challenges with additive manufacturing
Boosting supply chain resilience with additive manufacturing: exploring solutions to production and logistics challenges.
-
![British Army and UK Royal Navy new counter-drone soft-kill systems near fielding]()
British Army and UK Royal Navy new counter-drone soft-kill systems near fielding
Ongoing military operations in Europe and the Middle East have accelerated the development of a variety of systems to defeat uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).
-
![US Army to double investments in Patriot and Stinger modifications]()
US Army to double investments in Patriot and Stinger modifications
Congress authorised more than $505 million for the acquisition and improvement of Patriot and Stinger missile systems.
