Defence & Space

The AH-64D Apache is already in Poland. A powerful reinforcement for the Army Aviation

In Inowrocław, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz took part in the reception of the…

2025-06-17 | Rafał Muczyński | 7 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Polish 35 mm SA-35 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun with PIT-Radwar

During the recent MSPO trade fair in Kielce, the company PIT-Radwar presented its proposal for a 35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun…

2025-06-13 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 13 minutes

The AH-64D Apache is already in Poland. A powerful reinforcement for the Army Aviation

In Inowrocław, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz took part in the reception of the…

2025-06-17 | Rafał Muczyński | 7 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

SKW Cryptographic Security Certificate for Polish Comp@n Radio Set from the WB Group

The WB Group announced that the Comp@n system radio set, developed by its subsidiary Radmor, along with the Cryptographic Document Management…

2025-06-14 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Advancing multi-domain EW operations: Rohde & Schwarz unveils latest innovations at AOC Europe

Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the next generation of SIGINT/EW systems, sensor fusion and signal analysis solutions, designed to meet the evolving…

2025-05-12 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Spectra Group unveils Troposcatter on the Move (TOTM) to Asia at Indo Defence

Spectra Group is unveiling its new Troposcatter on the Move (TOTM) capability at Indo Defence, which delivers robust, secure, high-bandwidth…

2025-06-12 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Poland: GROTowisko-25 Conference Begins Next Week

On the weekend of June 14–15, 2025, the next edition of GROTowisko will take place. Once again, the military complex…

2025-06-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Taking Responsibility for Veterans – Rheinmetall participates in the first National Veterans’ Day

German-based Rheinmetall AG participates in the first National Veterans’ Day of the Bundeswehr. Numerous Rheinmetall sites set an example.

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

The Rohde & Schwarz R&S M3AR radio family reaches 10,000 unit milestone

Rohde & Schwarz has achieved a major milestone with the sale of over 10,000 R&S M3AR radios worldwide, underscoring its dedication to delivering cutting-edge communication…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Poland: Buffer zone on the border with Belarus extended for another 90 days

The Minister of the Interior and Administration has signed a regulation introducing a temporary ban on presence in a designated area within the…

2025-06-11 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Galvion awarded FBI contract for their Hellbender FE helmet

Galvion announces the successful award of a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) contract for their Galvion Hellbender Federal Edition (FE) helmet…

2025-06-09 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

The AH-64D Apache is already in Poland. A powerful reinforcement for the Army Aviation

In Inowrocław, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz took part in the reception of the…

2025-06-17 | Rafał Muczyński | 7 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Visit of Polish President Andrzej Duda to the Singaporean company ST Engineering

One of the stops during the visit of Polish President Andrzej Duda to Singapore was the local company ST Engineering, which…

2025-06-14 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

ICEYE signs agreement to deliver SAR satellite capabilities to the Portuguese Air Force

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE and the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa, FAP) announced the signing of an order for…

2025-06-13 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Hanwha Systems and BAE Systems Sign MOU to Build Next-Generation Reconnaissance Satellite System

Hanwha Systems, a leading South Korean defense and aerospace technology company, announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)…

2025-06-10 | Redakcja | 2 minutes
Shooting

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

Mactronic M-Fire Guardian – A New Flashlight for Professionals

Mactronic is introducing a new angle flashlight, the M-Fire Guardian. According to the manufacturer, it is the first angle flashlight with red…

2025-06-04 | Michał Ihnatów | 6 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

Mactronic M-Fire Guardian – A New Flashlight for Professionals

Mactronic is introducing a new angle flashlight, the M-Fire Guardian. According to the manufacturer, it is the first angle flashlight with red…

2025-06-04 | Michał Ihnatów | 6 minutes

Protective Rescuer Vest – BC Arms Archangel

The Archangel Rescuer Vest is the result of a collaboration between Polish companies Currahee and BC Arms. It was created in…

2025-05-16 | Mariusz Rams | 6 minutes

Direct Action Spitfire Plate Carrier – Part 1: Testing the Carrier

Nowadays, the market offers a wide range of options in the gear and load-bearing equipment category. One of the most basic…

2025-05-08 | Michał Gaweł | 14 minutes

Enforce Tac 2025 starts on February 24th

Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers, experts from government agencies, and representatives of the…

2025-01-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

POLSECURE: Holsters HPE Poland offer for uniformed services

At the 3rd International Police and Public Security Fair POLSECURE 2024 in Kielce, Holsters HPE Poland presented its offer for…

2024-05-01 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

MSBS GROT BULLPUP conversion now available

Fabryka Broni “Łucznik” Radom is introducing long-awaited conversion kits for the MSBS GROT S16 FB-M1 and S10 FB-M1 semi-automatic rifles,…

2025-06-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IDET 2025: Grand Power Showcases M4M1 Carbines for the Slovak Armed Forces

At the International Defence and Security Technologies Fair IDET 2023 in the Czech Republic, Grand Power — a Slovak firearms manufacturer — showcased…

2025-05-28 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Weapon light: a practical tool for everyday service. How to choose?

In the world of armed forces, where every second can determine the outcome of an operation, precision and effectiveness are…

2024-08-29 | Redakcja | 7 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of…

2024-02-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 8 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

Protective Rescuer Vest – BC Arms Archangel

The Archangel Rescuer Vest is the result of a collaboration between Polish companies Currahee and BC Arms. It was created in…

2025-05-16 | Mariusz Rams | 6 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

Polish Leopard 2PL modernization delayed

Despite great expectations regarding the modernization of a fleet of 142 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBT) to the 2PL standard, the programme has counted significant delay. According to the Armament Inspectorate, which acts on behalf of the Polish Ministry of Defense (MoD), manufacturers responsible for the upgrade of Polish MBTs still haven’t reached all significant milestones of the project.

The ongoing modernization of the fleet of 142 Leopard 2A4 MBTs to the 2PL standard is one of the most important investments that the Polish Armed Forces have made in recent years. Its successful finalization might change the posture of country’s Land Forces and significantly enhance Poland’s security and defense capabilities. The project is run by a consortium composed of the subsidiaries of the Polish Armament Group (PGZ, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa), with ZM Bumar-Labedy acting as the leader.

The original contract for modernization of Leopard 2A4 MBTs was signed at the end of 2015. It called for an upgrade of 128 vehicles by late 2020. In 2018 the MoD and industry reached a following agreement, which added an optional batch of 14 upgraded MBTs to the project, with delivery scheduled for 2021.

In early 2016 Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH (RLS), a subsidiary of Rheinmetall Defence, became a strategic partner of the programme. According to an agreement signed at that time with PGZ and a number of its companies, the German manufacturer was responsible for designing the Leopard 2PL upgrade and preparing technical documentation.

Failed delivery milestones

The fleet of 142 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks, which the Polish MoD wants to modernize to the 2PL standard, was originally acquired from German Bundeswehr’s stocks and delivered to Poland in 2002-2004 and 2013 / Picture: Rheinmetall Landsysteme

On 24th December 2019 the original agreement for modernization of Leopard 2A4s was amended by the Armament Inspectorate and the local industry. The new deal that was reached, allowing for additional works and services to be carried out in order to move the whole process forward at the desired pace. In result, the project’s budget grew by additional PLN569 million (€125 million), bringing the total cost of Leopard 2PL modernization to PLN3.2 billion (€704 million).

However, the Armament Inspectorate has recently informed that the consortium responsible for the modernization of Leopard 2A4/2PL MBTs failed to achieve a number of significant milestones of the project. Therefore, the original deadline for delivery of upgraded Leopard tanks will most likely not be met. At the moment the Polish MoD estimates that the modernization programme will conclude by 31st July 2023, when the final batch of upgraded MBTs should be handed over to the Polish Army

While waiting for the 1st batch…

On 28th December 2015 the Armament Inspectorate signed a contract with the Polish Armament Group and ZM Bumar-Łabędy. The agreement was worth 2,4 billion Polish Zloty (€528 million) and called for modernization of the initial batch of 128 Leopard 2A4 MBTs to the 2PL standard. Shortly after Rheinmetall Landsysteme became the strategic partner of the project. In May 2018 the original contract was amended and the option for the upgrade of an additional batch of 14 Leopard 2A4s was added to the programme / Picture: Rheinmetall Group

Despite over a year long tests and trials of prototype vehicles, conducted by the industry and military, the initial batch of Leopard 2PL MBTs has still to be delivered to the Army. Only after they are handed over, the Polish Army will be able to commence the final assessment, which will confirm (or not) if all modifications and enhancements implemented on the platform meet technical and operational requirements of its future user.

At the beginning of the year, the spokesman of the Armament Inspectorate, major Krzysztof Platek, announced that final tests of Leopard 2PL prototype vehicles should conclude by the end of March. This would allow to finalize their delivery to the Army in Q1/Q2 2020. However, until today the Polish MoD or the Armament Inspectorate has failed to confirm that milestone.

The one reason is simply that the whole testing process currently has to continue at a slower pace than normal due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which affects some or all aspects of the project. However, it’s also probable that during these tests, the MoD or the Army identified a number of additional technical issues, which had to be dealt with before prototype vehicles could be formally handed over.

 

According to the revised timeline for delivery of Leopard 2PL MBTs, all modernized tanks should be handed over to the Army by 2023, which means a 2-3 year delay in relation to the original schedule / Picture: Michał Jarocki

PGZ issued a statement exclusively to MILMAG, in which it states that ‘the manufacturer and its foreign partner, Rheinmetall Landsysteme already implemented all technical modifications on the 1st batch of 10 MBT’s upgraded to Leopard 2PL standard. Two of these vehicles remain stored at Rheinmetall’s facilities, while remaining eight are ready to be delivered to the Army, following approval of its final configuration by the Armament Inspectorate’.

A few months earlier the Armament Inspectorate stated that the testing process of Leopard 2PL MBTs required some additional work, due to a number of flaws and shortcomings in the technical documentation of the vehicle.

‘The tests of the Leopard 2PL prototype have not yet concluded due to a number of areas, which still need to be confirmed in terms of their compliance with several dozen requirements included in the Technical Specification,’ maj. Platek informed in February.

Maj. Platek added that despite continued problems with testing of Leopard 2PL prototype vehicle, the whole programme is well under way. It has been confirmed that several dozen of serial-production Leopard 2A4 MBTs were already delivered to ZM Bumar-Labedy, where they are currently stored and overhauled, while awaiting upgrade.

‘The contractor verified the technical condition of stored vehicles and is currently upgrading them in parallel to ongoing trials,’ said Platek. ‘Particular MBTs are in different stages of the modernisation process’, he added.

Major Platek’s statements correspond with the position taken by PGZ on the matter. The Group confirmed that ‘for the deadline for delivery of serial production Leopard 2PLs in 2020 to be met, it would depend on when prototype vehicles are handed over. In order to minimize the risk of potential delay, ZM Bumar-Łabędy has already commenced work on 30 serial production Leopard 2A4 MBTs.’

The Group added that ‘in February 2020 we succeeded to integrate the 120mm tank ammunition, manufactured by our Mesko subsidiary, with Leopard 2PL MBTs. All required tests have already been concluded and currently we’re waiting for the final configuration of the vehicle and its technical documentation to be approved by the Armament Inspectorate.’

According to PGZ ‘the deadline for the conclusion of the contract is an important factor, but not the only determinant of its proper finalization, which has to be taken into consideration by both sides of the agreement. (…) Our priority is to deliver a product, which complies with the requirements of the MoD. We work hand in hand with representatives of the department to assure that upgraded MBTs will be handed over to the Polish Army at the nearest possible date.’

PGZ added that ‘irrespective of the ongoing trials of the Leopard 2PL prototype, ZM Bumar-Labedy continuously engages in the overhaul and repair of a number of Leopard 2A4 MBTs, which were delivered to the manufacturer prior to the awaited upgrade. It will allow us to speed up the modernization and delivery of upgraded MBTs, once the final configuration of the Leopard 2PL vehicle is accepted by the Army.’

 

Modernization required

The Leopard 2PL modernization programme calls for integration of a number of new onboard systems and equipment with the legacy platform, such as: new/upgraded observation and aiming sites for the commander and gunner, improved ballistic protection of the turret, new electronic system for turret traverse and cannon elevation, installation of more effective fire/explosion prevention system, new command and control system, additional APU generator, additional cargo carrying equipment and upgraded evacuation/towing system adjusted to the higher weight of the platform, new fire control system, new ammunition (DM63 antitank and DM11 multipurpose) and day/night reverse camera for the driver/ Picture: Jakub Link-Lenczowski

Leopard 2PL MBTs will be equipped with: KLW-1 ASTERIA thermal cameras and KDN-1 NYKS observation cameras, both manufactured by the local PCO company / Picture: Jakub Link-Lenczowski

142 modernized Leopard 2PLs will constitute the core of the Polish Army’s MBT fleet along with 105 Leopard 2A5s, 233 PT-91s and approx. 270 T-72M1s / Picture: Michał Jarocki

In general, the Leopard 2PL modernization programme calls for integration of a number of new onboard systems and equipment with the legacy platform, such as: new/upgraded observation and aiming sites for the commander and gunner, improved ballistic protection of the turret, new electronic system for turret traverse and cannon elevation, installation of more effective fire/explosion prevention system, new command and control system, additional APU generator, additional cargo carrying equipment and upgraded evacuation/towing system adjusted to the higher weight of the platform, new fire control system, new ammunition (DM63 antitank and DM11 multipurpose) and day/night reverse camera for the driver.

Following the modernization programme the Polish Army will operate a fleet of 142 relatively modern Leopard 2PL MBTs along with 105 Leopard 2A5s – both platforms originally coming from German Bundeswehr’s stocks. They will be supplemented by 233 PT-91s and approx. 270 T-72M1s, with the latter currently undergoing a limited upgrade.

However, neither PT-91s nor T-72M1s meet the requirements of the modern battlefield, mostly due to their obsolescence and bad technical condition. Therefore, both platforms are planned to be phased out and replaced by a next generation MBT, which the Polish MoD intends to procure in the future under the ‘Wilk’ programme.

 

Article previously published on MILMAG 01/2020

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