On Monday, December 23, 2024, the 20th Bartoszyce Mechanized Brigade, named after Lithuanian Field Hetman Wincenty Gosiewski, announced the receipt of the first batch of Legwan Light Reconnaissance Vehicles (LPR Legwan), adapted for the Polish Armed Forces from the Korean KIA KLTV.
Photos: 20th Bartoszyce Mechanized Brigade via Facebook
“Legwans have arrived in Morąg. This is a significant step for the 20th Mechanized Brigade and the entire Polish Armed Forces. The introduction of modern vehicles for reconnaissance platoons will undoubtedly enhance the unit’s operational capabilities. This type of equipment enables more effective intelligence operations and increases soldier safety. The 20th Mechanized Brigade is regularly modernized and equipped with state-of-the-art gear,” stated a post on the brigade’s Facebook page.
The size of the delivery was not disclosed, but based on the published photographs, it appears to consist of 4 or 5 vehicles. This is the second type of Korean-origin vehicle in the 20th Brigade. Previously, starting from December 9, 2022, the brigade began receiving the latest K2GF Heuk-Pyo (Black Panther) tanks.
So far, approximately 17 Legwan Light Reconnaissance Vehicles have been delivered to Poland from the Republic of Korea in two batches: April 16 (likely 3 units) and August 2 of this year (14 units). Initially, they were sent to the Rosomak company in Siemianowice Śląskie for Polish adaptation, followed by acceptance testing at the Wisła Research and Testing Center of the Military Institute of Armoured and Automotive Technology (WITPiS) in Sulejówek.
The delivered vehicles are armored variants, 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) per STANAG 4569. They are also equipped with a rotating mount (turret ring) that allows 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 line with previous announcements, the vehicles have received a new, upgraded body tailored to the needs of the Polish customer. In the coming years, Rosomak plans to gradually transfer the production of vehicle components to Poland, starting with the technology transfer for body production and the introduction of structural modifications to meet the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces.
On August 14, 2023, an agreement was signed between the Armament Agency and the PGZ–Rosomak consortium for the delivery of nearly 400 Legwan Light Reconnaissance Vehicles with a 4×4 drivetrain, scheduled for handover between 2024 and 2030. The contract is valued at approximately 1.2 billion PLN gross. The first demonstrator was presented at last year’s MSPO exhibition in Kielce.
At this year’s Kielce expo, a Legwan-L (Long) variant was showcased, featuring an extended chassis with increased cargo capacity, lengthened by 1 meter compared to the standard model. This version can serve as a base platform for specialized configurations such as communication, command, or counter-drone vehicles.
The base LPR Legwan is powered by a Hyundai D6EB diesel engine with 225 hp, paired with an automatic transmission and fully independent suspension on all axles. The vehicle’s modern design includes an eight-speed automatic gearbox, a central tire inflation system, and run-flat technology, allowing the vehicle to continue driving after a tire puncture. The gross vehicle weight (GVW) is approximately 5.7 tons, filling the gap between light vehicles with a GVW of up to 3.5 tons and heavy-duty designs based on the Waran 4×4 platform.
