On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, Rosomak, a company based in Siemianowice Śląskie and a part of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), announced on social media that the first Legwan Light Reconnaissance Vehicles, which are Polish-adapted KIA Light Tactical Vehicles, have arrived in Poland from South Korea.
Photos: Rosomak
The published photographs showed three vehicles still without the final Land Forces camouflage applied (which will be for reconnaissance subunits in mechanized and armored forces). It was reported that after several weeks of sea transportation, the vehicles were delivered to the port in Gdańsk.
Legwan vehicles will be presented during the 3rd Police and Public Security International Expo POLSECURE, which will take place from April 23rd to 25th of this year under the patronage of the WB Group at Kielce Trade Fair.
Meanwhile, on April 14, 2024, the South Korean Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ) released a video dated December 14, 2023, from ballistic resistance tests of a vehicle of this type in the Polish configuration.
In connection with the above, as can be seen in the attached photographs, armored vehicles have been delivered to Poland, which according to the manufacturer, provide crew and passenger protection at level 2 (7.62 mm x 39 API) or level 3 (7.62 mm x 51 AP) according to STANAG 4569.
The delivered vehicles are equipped with a rotating mount allowing for the installation of a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. As can be seen, in accordance with the announcements, they have received new, modernized bodies prepared for the needs of the Polish recipient.
On August 14, 2023, a contract was signed between the Armament Agency and the PGZ – Rosomak consortium for the delivery of nearly 400 Legwan Light Reconnaissance Vehicles in a 4×4 drivetrain configuration, with delivery planned for the years 2024-2030. The contract value is approximately 1.2 billion PLN gross (approximately 300 million USD). The first demonstrative model was presented at last year’s MSPO in Kielce. Starting with the first deliveries, the vehicle will receive a new, modernized body prepared for the needs of the Polish project. Over the following years, Rosomak plans to gradually transfer the production of vehicle components to Poland, starting with the transfer of body production technology and introducing design changes to meet the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces.
The Legwan is powered by a Hyundai D6EB diesel engine with a power of 225 HP, coupled with an automatic transmission, and has fully independent suspension on all axles. The modernity of the design is emphasized by the use of an eight-speed automatic transmission, a central tire inflation system, and run-flat tires enabling driving after tire puncture. The permissible total weight of the vehicle is approximately 5.7 tons, which fills the gap between light vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tons and heavy constructions based on the Waran 4×4 platform.
Realizując cel kontraktu podpisanego w sierpniu 2023 r. z @AgencjaUzbr na dostawę lekkich pojazdów rozpoznawczych LPR 4×4 dla Wojska Polskiego🇵🇱, po kilku tygodniach podróży morskiej, #Legwan|y dopłynęły do Gdańska i są już w #Rosomak|u.#pgz #Rosomak @MAPGOVPL @MON_GOV_PL pic.twitter.com/WjkhZn9JGB
— Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa🇵🇱 (@PGZ_pl) April 16, 2024