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
-
![Saab to begin delivering new missile variant for RBS 70 air defence system in 2027]()
Saab to begin delivering new missile variant for RBS 70 air defence system in 2027
The Bolide 2 missile has a larger warhead than the original version as well as an aluminium nose cone, which replaces a copper version and allows for more explosive content and fragments.
-
![SAHA 2026: MKE sets its sights on the Turkish Army’s self-propelled guns]()
SAHA 2026: MKE sets its sights on the Turkish Army’s self-propelled guns
With multiple artillery platforms on display at SAHA 2026, Turkey’s defence contractors are positioning to replace the country’s older imported platforms.
-
![Saab unveils new round to defeat explosive reactive armour]()
Saab unveils new round to defeat explosive reactive armour
The HEAT 758 has a tandem warhead consisting of an initial charge which neutralises the explosive reactive armour and the main charge which penetrates the primary armour. It is fired from a standard Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon launcher and has been ordered by an undisclosed customer.
-
![India’s high-altitude logistics drone push drives demand as BonV Aero launches Air Orca]()
India’s high-altitude logistics drone push drives demand as BonV Aero launches Air Orca
The Indian Army's major drone procurement programme has drawn attention from BonV Aero which has launched its heavy-lift platform for extreme terrain missions.
