Poland Rejigs Leopard 2PL Upgrade Programe.

The Polish Ministry of Defence (MoD) has opted for a new contractor for the planned upgrade of 128 of its Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBTs) to the new Leopard 2PL standard.

Poland Rejigs Leopard 2PL Upgrade Programe.

After launching a tender for the programme in October 2013, Poland has rejected the latest offer from a consortium led by Polish Defence Holding (PHO) out of "formal and technical reasons" and because of limited Polish industrial participation in the upgrade.

Instead, the MoD has selected Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) as its new industry partner for the modernisation programme.

The MoD intends to develop a completely indigenous capability to service, repair, and overhaul Leopard 2 MBTs to the F6 level. Accordingly, the MoD has changed the classification of its entire Leopard 2 modernisation programme, which is now subject to "essential security interest" procedures.

Deputy Minister of Defence Czeslaw Mroczek said that the military was rethinking the specifications of the upgrade to the 2PL standard and was analysing a range of potential, Polish-made parts to replace original components and still be certified.

The President of PGZ, Wojciech Dabrowski, stated: "We expect the new offer for Leopard modernisation will be proposed in [the] second quarter of 2015. I also confirm that we [have] selected the Bumar Labedy plant as a leader of the upgrade."

The first prototype of the Leopard 2PL will be revealed in 2015. A contract signature is expected after the military accepts the upgrade, with modernisation works to begin 3 to 4 months later. All 128 MBTs are planned to be upgraded by 2020.

Poland bought 128 Leopard 2A4s from Germany in January 2002. The tanks manufactured between 1985 and 1987 and delivered in 2003 were 30% "worn out", according to the MoD. They are currently operated by the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade, based in Swietoszow.

We understands that other companies involved in the programme will include: WZM Poznan, responsible for the chassis upgrade and maintenance; and PCO, responsible for the tanks' imaging systems.